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Gettysburg, PA: Marsh Creek
Thursday, June 25, 2009 at 9:01AM The Goobs were in the creek within five minutes of parking at the campground.
They were soon out again, but only because they wanted their swimsuits.
If we're not out on the battlefield, they're in the creek. They've been having a fantastic time, though JellyMan seems to fall down an awful lot. (I think he must do it on purpose, but I just smile benignly and go back to my book and my peach iced tea with vodka.)
Other mothers have been giving me dirty looks because now THEIR children want to play in the creek. I know how they feel. Anything could be in that creek - parasites, fishing hooks, human waste, pesticide, leeches, water moccasins. Yes, they're right to be concerned.
They should get themselves some peach iced tea and put some vodka in it. That'd calm 'em down.
The Goobers, nature in The Squares
Reader Comments (16)
I am not that big on vodka but a glass or 3 of wine works wonders too. On really, really long days I have occasionally had that for supper, shhh don't tell anyone though.
Drink up, I say and let them have fun! What a great mom you are.
Smiling benignly - lol
Umm...isn't that what a creek is for?? I ALWAYS swam in creeks and streams. Of course, the only kinds my kids have come across so far have been either A. visibly horrid and scummy, or B. surrounded by State signs warning about the leptospirosis in the water. Suffice to say, neither of them have been swimming in a creek yet. Poor things. :p
Bummer! I also swam in creeks (and what would properly be called a drainage ditch as well) and I'm still here. Creeks are fun.
One little girl nagged her mother enough that she let her play in the creek, but she had on waders and rubber gloves. Jeez. I tried not to roll my eyes, because for all I know she has some sort of autoimmune disorder, but I really doubt it. I mean, if MY kid had an autoimmune disorder, I wouldn't let her play in a creek at all, because kids tend to fall down. I think she was just being overprotective. At any rate, the little girl and my Goobs caught 15 crawdads and had a great time, and the little girl ended up dumping the waders and the gloves on the bank. Then I got a REALLY dirty look from her dad. LOL
We used to play in creeks all the time. I can't really think of when my boys have though.....must work on this - right after I find a clean creek. LOL
We, my kids and I, used to wade around in the ditch that runs along-side our property. It's like a nice creek when it rains, sometimes it has standing water and sometimes it has running water. It can get rather nasty because it's part of a major water run-off system. It's where we gathered tadpoles. We always wore shoes because one never knew when there'd be glass laying around. People threw just about anything in it. I know there is a kitchen sink buried it in because I saw it one day after a big rain. The dirt washed away revealing the two drain holes (The sink is upside down.) One day during a very heavy rain, I looked out and saw a swing-set going end over end down the ditch. That was bizarre. I bought the kids those rubbery boots just for walking in the ditch. It's deep and wide and goes through the woods.
I didn't mean to ramble like that.
It cracks me up that the parents gave you dirty looks. =D
Sheri, is there such a thing as a clean creek?
I like it when you ramble, Donna. :) It's great that you have a ditch so close to your house. We have to walk a long way to get to the base lake.
P.S. The Goobs were wearing shoes. Really. I mean, I didn't drink THAT much. *hiccup*
Secretly, I think you like the dirty looks. You get to be the "cool" mom. :) I have let my kids play in a creek before. It was freezing, but they didn't care. Besides if your kids are up to date with their tetanus, it should be fine.
So did they end up with some horrific disease or a huge blood sucking leech stuck on their ankles?
Not so far!
You're right, Tressa. I relish the dirty looks. LOL
Triple Sec is good as well,
Love the photos!!! my kids hit the creek on our walk and the husband got all bent out of shape. I just laughed at him.
Hey, good parenting sometimes requires blinders.
I played in a creek when I growing up and turned out just fine. Oh sure, I have some really annoying health issues NOW, but the creek wasn't to blame. No, my health woes are the result of being forced to eat sauerkraut when I was very young--which was supposed to be good for me. Go figure.
My kids accidentally, on purpose, fall in the water. Hey, does the vodka help you with pulling the leeches off ?
Just wondering. I'll have to get some if it does. I've never seen a leeche attached to anyone, but I am sure I'll need the vodka to pull it off. I'm guessing the peach iced tea is optional.
HEY!
Wow, it's been a long time since I've popped over for a visit.
I love it when the kids play in the creek...till it's time for them to clean up!
Vodka and peach iced tea, huh? I'll have to try that.
We made it back to Alaska! Right now we are in limbo waiting for base housing. I hope to get settled soon!