My children had a swing set when they were young thanks to the dedication of my grandfather. When his neighbor wanted to get rid of a set he took it thinking the great-grandchildren on the farm would appreciate it. He took the whole thing apart to paint it. He also made handles of wood to replace the metal ones that were broken.

One afternoon he and my grandmother brought the set over to us in their car. He had it all apart, but he brought his tools to put it together. I took movies of this. At the time grandpa was close to 80 years young and so was my grandmother. Once it was assembled the children had a wonderful time on it. They used it until they were big enough to get the whole thing swinging, literally. That was when we put it away.

I lived with my grandparents from the time I was 2 years old, but I never had a swing set. I do remember a wooden baby swing that hung in one bay of the garage. I must have used that but I do not remember. The next generation benefited from grandpa’s skills and generosity. I guess maybe he thought since we lived in the country we had a lot of room. I must admit though it was kind of a pain when you mowed the lawn. I always had to move it when my husband was mowing.

This memory triggered many others. The playground at school had a whole bank of swings. When we were allowed out there we had to take turns with the swings. The swings on the playground had wooden seats hung by long chains. We used that thing until we could make the swings go high enough to make the chains jerk when we pumped our way upward. I remember swallowing a bug when I was swinging. It tasted awful and brought my ride to an abrupt halt.

Swings were a staple at area playgrounds. When we went to Lake Erie State Park we always headed for the swings. They had high swings and low swings to accommodate every age level. Midway Park also had swings. They had the type that you used your hands to push. There were levers just above your head that you pushed on to make the things go. The first time I tried to use those some instruction was in order. They still had that type of swing there when we took our children. You had to be tall enough to use those.

Now parents worry about children getting hurt on the swings. It makes me wonder how I ever happened to grow up. We went to the playground on our own. There were people in charge, but it was not our parents. There are many things that go on these days that make me wonder how people my age ever managed to make it to adulthood. We were not smothered as much in those days. Accidents were just that – they were accidents. If you fell you picked yourself up and started the activity over. No one thought of suing the school district because the swings were unsafe.

I often long for those simpler days when children were allowed to be children. They were allowed to make mistakes and suffer the consequences. I think children were stronger in those days. My own children and grandchildren have been raised on the rougher side. I remember having my grandson and granddaughter one day. The little girl was walking but the boy was not. He had his “walker” so he could get around. He followed his cousin all day. By the time his folks picked him up he had a hole in the toe of his shoe from the blacktop in my driveway.

I always told the children when I babysat that the children would have fun and be safe, but I did not guarantee that they would stay clean. Unless we had an errand to run I preferred serviceable play clothes on the children.

Along with those simpler times a well-known poem comes to mind. I learned it as a child and you probably did, too.

The Swing

How do you like to up in a swing,

Up in the air so blue?

Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing

Ever a child can do!

Up in the air and over the wall,

Till I can see so wide,

Rivers and trees and cattle and all

Over the countryside –

Till I look down on the garden green,

Down on the roof so brown –

Up in the air I go flying again,

Up in the air and down!

– Robert Lewis Stevenson

I think this poem probably talks about the kinds of swings that were hung up in the trees in one’s yard. My grandson had one of those. At a sale I saw a horse swing made out of a tire. I tried to negotiate a price with the vendor but he would not budge. I did not buy the swing but I have kicked myself ever since. It would have been so much fun for the children to swing on at grandma’s house. I guess the real reason I did not buy it was that I did not know exactly where to hang it. Once our yard was fixed there was not a real good spot.

I was very disappointed when they redid the playground at school that they only put up two swings. The children loved the swings and I always had to make sure they were taking turns. I guess they bought some playground plans and built the thing accordingly.

When my grandchildren were smaller I used to take them to Larimer Park or the baseball field so they could swing and slide. Often we took our lunch and ate in the pavilion. They made up games to play on the monkey bars and sheltered areas. I am sure they will remember going to the playground with grandma for a long time.

Ann Swanson writes from her home in Russell, Pa. Contact at hickoryheights1@verizon.net.