As Beverly Cleary approaches her 100th birthday, she reflects on the significant changes in childhood experiences over the years. The cherished author of children’s literature, whose characters have been like friends to many of us, shared her thoughts in a recent interview with The Daily Journal. Growing up, I always admired Ramona Quimby for her daring nature and adventurous spirit.
Cleary embraces her milestone birthday with a sense of humor, noting, “Go ahead and celebrate; everyone else is.” It’s a valid point considering 100 years is quite the achievement! For countless readers, reminiscing about childhood brings back fond memories of Beezus and Ramona, and Cleary’s insights about today’s children spark a thought-provoking conversation.
“I believe kids today face challenges because they lack the freedom to roam as I did, and their schedules are packed with activities,” Cleary remarked. She fondly recalls a time when children played freely outside, a stark contrast to the structured lives many kids lead today. “When I was a child, most mothers stayed home, which meant they kept an eye on all the children in the neighborhood.”
It’s tempting to idealize the past when all mothers were present at home, but we must recognize the progress women have made. Not all women desire to be stay-at-home moms, and this doesn’t mean that community spirit has to fade away. While family dynamics have shifted, we still have neighbors, and fostering those relationships can help recreate that sense of community.
Cleary emphasizes how the watchful eyes of mothers contributed to the adventures of her characters. But does that oversight need to be exclusively from moms? What about dads, grandparents, or caregivers? There are indeed people in our lives who can help maintain that collective vigilance for our children.
Now residing in a Northern California retirement community, Cleary admits she doesn’t use a computer but enjoys writing letters, although she notes, “At 99, there aren’t many people left to write to.”
We owe her gratitude for the cherished stories and memories, reminding us of a time when neighborly connections flourished. It’s hard to imagine what Ramona would have done if confined indoors all day or rushing from one appointment to another. Perhaps she would have morphed from Ramona The Brave into Ramona The Bored.
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In summary, Beverly Cleary’s reflections on childhood freedom resonate deeply in today’s context, emphasizing the importance of community and the evolving nature of parenting.