I recently saw an advertisement that made me kind of mad. It was a picture of a little blond girl with long hair framing her face, barefoot in a white dress. She was sitting by a window, looking through it. The light hitting her face, highlighting her sadness. It was an advertisement for poor children, encouraging people to donate money so children from poor families could do something fun for the summer. Nothing wrong with that, a totally good and valid cause. But the advertisement read something like: “Summertime is not fun for everyone”, followed by a quote from a seven year old girl: "We usually just sit in our apartment the whole summer. We can´t afford to do anything fun”. That sentence made me so mad. I wanted to meet her parents, shake them and give them a good talking too. I wanted to say: “Wake up! Take your kid outside. Create an adventure! There are a thousand fun things you can do with your kid that don´t cost a dime! Use your imagination and give your kid a happy childhood”.
That´s how I felt when I saw that ad. Of course, every situation is unique and maybe some people can´t literally leave their apartment because of social anxiety, severe depression or some other disability, but money won´t change that. Most people can stand up and leave their apartment.
I´ve been poor. Really poor. Like recycling bottles to buy food at the end of each month poor. For my sons’ first 7 years anyway, while I was studying. In 2008 when he was 9 years old, he had a little sister, and another one in 2010. Right in the middle of the financial crisis. Things were pretty tough then as well for like 7 more years I would say. Not nearly as tough as before, but definitely not easy. So pretty much my son’s entire childhood. I still did stuff with them all the time. I spent hours and hours with them out in nature, sitting by some creek, at a playground or by the beach. I packed lunch and some Playmobil toys and that was it. They loved it. I played football and basketball with my son when he was younger. I took him to the library where we borrowed endless amounts of books and DVD´s for free. We took lang walks and swam in the lake. Me and my girls explored every beach and playground in a 100 km radius, and every inch of our little town and the nature surrounding it. We named the waterfalls and the little “valleys” above the avalanche protection wall. We picked beautiful rocks and seashells, flowers and berries. We sang and made-up stories. Crossing a creek became an adventure with crocodiles in the jungle. We did arts and crafts and baked together. I knitted and crocheted toys for them and they made stuff for me.
All children need is genuine attention from their parents, and anything can be made to feel like an adventure. Sure, it can be hard when others go to amusement parks or have fun trips all over the world, but you don´t have to stay in your apartment the entire summer. I´m sorry but that´s just stupid. And lazy.
And here in Sweden you have no excuse. At least not here in Ängelholm where we live. There are so many fantastic hiking and cycling trails, endless beautiful beaches, good weather (compared to Iceland anyway), amazing playgrounds, Fritidsbanken – where you can borrow all kinds of sport and leisure equipment for free, loads of fun and free summer activities for children arranged by the municipality (kommunen). Please leave your apartment and give your child some fun childhood memories. Build a sandcastle, play by the sea, gather leaves and stick them in a frame. Bring toys, and some food. That´s it. Scrape together a little money and take the bus to the next town and explore a new beach or a new playground. Go crab fishing. Swimming. Whatever. There are endless possibilities. And not just in Sweden, anywhere you live there are endless possibilities.
Kids don´t need a lot. A smile and a hug and some real attention. You can cry about your money trouble when they are asleep. That´s what I did. I know it sucks. I know it´s hard. You want to give them the world. But you are their world. You are enough. And you have the power to give your child an amazing childhood. Money or no money. Use your fantasy and the sky´s the limit. I´m sure there are many amazing poor families that do just that. Go outside so their kids can run around and have fun with other kids. I hope and believe most of them do and I really hope there aren´t many that literally stay in their apartments the entire summer. That has nothing to do with poverty.