When Everyones Mom Was Your Mom

Growing up in the Silver Spring/Wheaton neighborhood 50 years ago was so much different from the neighborhood today. We played football in the street- the telephone poles were the goal posts, the cars lined on the streets were the out of bound markers. Of course we played touch football- getting tackled on pavement would not have been very wise. As in professional football we played in different venues- sometimes it was Tenbrook Drive, sometimes Helena Drive and sometimes Laredo Road. The teams were different each time we played and occassionaly a bit of rough housing would take place.But no one got hurt, and no one held a grudge. On every block that we played on,there would be someones mother who would provide sodas, and snacks- sometimes even lunch. These same mothers would also be the teams mother- if you got hurt you did not go home you would go up the the block mothers home and she would treat you-- she would also scold you if you misbehaved and you would know that when you got home later that day- your real mother would be ready to give you another scolding. I remember these mothers to this day- Mrs. Van Ness, Mrs. Boxall,Mrs. Leo,Mrs. Volz, Mrs. Wood, Mrs. Leonard, Mrs Lycette, Mrs. Knapp, Mrs. Allison, Mrs. Psira and of course my mother. Most of these mothers are now gone- but I still have great memories of their generosity and kindness. I do not know how many families still practice this form of child rearing- most parents are caught up in their careers, children do not play in the street anymore and most children- if they do play sports play sports on their computers. Those were the days of good neighbors, neighbors who watched out for each other and everyone was part of a big neighborhood family I miss my mother and I miss the mothers of these neighborhood- People die, or move away and we gradually lose touch with our old neighborhoods and friends. To all the friends from the neighborhood- and to all my friends- Remember you Mother this Mothers Day and remember how special she was- not just to your family but to the other kids in the neighborhood- Happy Mothers Day Mom- you are in my heart and mind all the time-.