Night Games

Last night we counted 19 children in our front yard/cul-de-sac. They were from all over the neighborhood. Some of them we hadn't ever seen before.

Somehow, our cul-de-sac has become the mecca for summer "Night Games".

Do any of YOU have Night Games where you live?

I think KT was the one who coined the phrase a few years back, or at least it was her "generation," back when they used to play kickball in the adjacent cul-de-sac. Now she's too old at 19 and finds herself staring wistfully out the window, counting the neighbor kids, and wishing she had friends to play Night Games with.

All these kids played in our yard w/ hula hoops and stilts until TMax, Pip, and Princess were finished with dinner, and then they played Capture the Flag for an hour and a half more. Mean Mom that I am, I sent them all home at 9:30 p.m. I mean, it's pitch dark, and surely their parents want them home, too?

Besides, Little Princess and the other 7/8's have swim team at 8:30 and it's really hard to drag her out of bed when she gets to sleep after 10 p.m.!

I like the Night Game tradition, especially when it's in my yard and I know where my children are. The games will continue almost every night of summer until school starts. Then they'll have a few more during the first days of school before homework gets serious and activities are in full swing. Then they'll just be on Fridays and Saturdays, and gradually fade away as the weather gets too cold.

But they'll be back next summer, too. Some different children, and maybe a different cul-de-sac, but I think it's a tradition this neighborhood will keep going, somehow.