New Playgrounds suck ass

I just have to say it. No swingsets- except for the ones made only for babies that look like diapers, no 20 foot metal slides (just these 5 foot tall plastic ones that aren't even slid-ey if you throw sand on them), no merry go-rounds, no see-saws, no jungle gyms, no monkey bars. Everything made out of plastic...


(this one has monkey bars- but look! They're only as tall as that kid standing next to them!)

If I was a kid, I'd be pissed. I mean, I get that safety is a concern and all- but they just look boring as hell. Kids should have scraped knees, they should puke from spinning around in circles, and have bruised butts from their friend jumping off the see-saw too soon. I firmly believe this. My mom didn't want me to be afraid to climb the jungle gym- she didn't want me to be afraid of anything- even getting hurt. I learned to laugh when I fell down instead of cry. I learned fearlessness, I learned to hang from my knees.

I think these things build character. If you have a bubble-wrapped childhood, I think it's possible you'll grow up to be a whiny bastard. I'm kind of grateful for every crappy thing that happened to me when I was a kid. It's why, at 26, I am such a ballsy-ass broad now!