So I live in Glenview Illinois, on a quiet street that leads up to one of the many communal parks the village care for. Our street does not have any sidewalks but it used by pedestrians everyday walking their dogs or taking their children to the park. The problem is that the street was under construction a few years ago and is just so perfectly straight and smooth so you easily can hit 40-50 mph even though you only allowed to drive 20!

My husband and I try to set a good example for out children as we always talk about what is healthy for you and what is not healthy. We tell them it is ok to have a soda or candy but not everyday, we tell them it is important with exercise. Both our children are very active in sports and we encourage them to ride their bike, Rollerblade or have fun on their scooters. So in order to make it a little bit more enjoyable we put out our hockey goals on the street and the kids loves it. It also serves the purpose of alerting drivers that there is children on the street playing and it actually works. The cars are slowing down, the kids have a chance to get out of their way… and in my mind everyone should be happy about it.

So today I receive an anonymous letter in the mail from one of my neighbors saying that they are trying to be “good neighbors” but we can’t have the goals on the street as it is not allowed. They will not call the police but if we do not stop doing this the police will notice!!!

(The goals are only on the street while the kids are playing)

So my dear “Good Neighbor” I am confused. Does it bother you that I’m letting you know that the kids are out playing so you don’t hurt my children or does it bother you that you can’t get fast enough down the street to the stop sign where you have to wait for traffic to pass before you can make your turn?

What bothers me is that if you can’t pass the hockey nets doing “20” you are going to fast, also it surprises me that you value your precious time more than all the children and everyone else who doesn’t see the street as the new I-94.

So if this is where we heading I am not surprised that childhood obesity has doubled in the past 30 years* as we no longer can let them be active on their on terms. All their activities has to be organized, carefully planed and paid for before it can be executed. What about the spontaneous games for an example when Knut brings out his rollerblades, his stick and pretends he is Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Andrew Shaw all at the same time when he is bringing down the Boston Bruins ;). If kids have fun they will automatically be move around and do what they are best at…and that is being kids and the health will follow!

So my Good Neighbor maybe you should step out of the car, walk around the block and meet all the people who is out and about trying to live a healthier life and maybe you will learn a thing or two…

*http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm