Mokelumne Hill

Welcome to the Country
So you’ve decided to move to the country where teaching your child simple rules of the road can be a somewhat daunting yet interesting experience.
The first thing you will most likely notice when you move to the country is the obvious lack of sidewalks. We have ‘em, sort of, they just aren’t what you would call planned city type sidewalks.
Our children quickly learn to walk in the loose road base gravel on the side of the road, complete with strategically placed mud puddles, and readily accept that as a sidewalk. Much to our dismay they seem never to learn the art of avoiding the ever present (even in the summer) sidewalk mud puddles, in fact, they make a point of ‘accidentally’ sloshing in each and every one…twice! There is however, one time when our children do not have to use this wonderful country sidewalk. That is when our children see what looks to be a brown coiled up rope on the sidewalk, at this point they have permission to walk around said coiled rope, preferably all the way on the other side of the road.
As we begin to enjoy the splendor of the country evenings, the dusky awe inspiring sunsets, the calls of the wild animals and the splendor of the blanket of stars we notice that something is missing. Is it the sounds of sirens? No. Hmm. The sound of vehicles? Lots of them? No. Hmmm. I know! It’s the lack of any light other than that of the moon and stars!
To adults this is a beautiful thing, until our children want to walk to their friends house dressed like the uni-bomber in camo. They become insulted that we think a flashlight would help with their venture. And that great reflective tape we thought was such a fabulous invention? They won’t have any of that on their clothing…no way! So off they go, guided by the light of the moon, sure to stomp in every muddle puddle within a ½ mile radius of your home and hopefully make it to their friends house without a sprained ankle, due to lack of proper lighting.
While we are on the subject of lights and road safety… just how is one supposed to teach their children crosswalk safety when there aren’t any crosswalks in the country? I don’t mean the two painted lines on the road, faded beyond recognition. I mean a real crosswalk. One with a signal light.
A couple years back I took my young son to visit his Aunt in the city and she took him to a park just a block away for some fresh air fun. Imagine my embarrassment when he returned home and told me in an excited and extremely animated way how he crossed a street when the green person was walking but stopped when the red hand flashed. My sister looked at me and shook her head as if to say I had failed Motherhood 101 by not teaching my son basic road safety.
Then there is the driving. That right there could be a whole welcome to the country column all on its own, but suffice it to say, the first thing one must teach their children when they learn to drive in the country is…the tractor has the right of way. Period. Oh, and cows, and horses, and turkeys,….
Until next time…welcome to the country.
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