In my years as a educator I have seen many changes in teaching, administration, kids, and parents. Some changes are for the better and some changes for the worse.

The other day I was in a classroom for inside recess. I was watching a group of boys playing with some toys. One boy had a little play sword, one you would get probably in a happy meal at McDonald's. He was having a great time pretending he was a pirate and taking a stand against the bad guys.

This little interaction got me thinking...boys and their toys. In our world today we have lots of crazy people..who do some pretty crazy things. Some of these people are very violent and do things with guns and knives that is pretty scary.

Here is where it got me thinking....kids and playing with guns..play guns..do these toys really cause our children to be psycho and violent? I don't think so.

I remember when I was a kid and I strapped on my holster and six shooter or I got my plastic machine gun and around the neighborhood I went with my friends and played and played and played for hours. Enjoying each other and taking care of the bad guy.

Today we freak in our world when kids make a gun shape with their fingers and think we need to send them for therapy. To coin a phrase from my daughter..WHATEVER!

Kids are kids...play is play, guns are guns and pow is pow. This type of play by children does not necessarily cause them to grow up and be violent adults. It just doesn't. I think we need to lighten up and enjoy life and let kids be kids.

Okay, I got that off my chest....I think I'll round up some of my friends and go play paintball or lasertag..Oh that may cause me to be violent..WHATEVER!