I get 30 of these a day and in the 3 years I've been on this site I bet I've passed along no more than a half dozen...

This one is definitely worth a read/reminiscence in my humble and possibly worthless opinion...

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We survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.

Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.

As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags.

Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.

We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.

We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank Kool-aid made with sugar, but we weren't overweight because,

WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!

We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.

No one was able to reach us all day.And we were O.K.

We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We did not have Playstations, Nitendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computer, no Internet or chat
rooms...

WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!

We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.

We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.

We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays, made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!

The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!

If YOU are one of them... CONGRATULATIONS!

You might want to share this with others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before the lawyers and the government regulated so much of our lives for our own good.

While you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave (and lucky) their parents were.

Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?

... and laugh a bit at lawmakers and those others who assure us they know best for us...

Oh, I just LOVE it!!

And to think, I still raise my children with most of those life's lessons so that they can pass on the good ole times!!

I see now that spanking is not mentioned. It should have been! :p

How true.

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Originally Posted by RickJ

I see now that spanking is not mentioned.

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That's the one thing I don't do... my children are intimidated enough by the sound of the wooden spoon hitting the kitchen counter top. :eek:

:p :p
Haha, I know that one too!

Or the phrase, "Honey, go get me the belt"

I was born in the 80s but it seems my family was old fashioned in the sense that many in your list seems so familiar:).

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Originally Posted by RickJ

"Honey, go get me the belt"

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"Mommy, am I gonna get a spanking?" Can be enough punishment!! :p

OK if I start e-mailing this around?

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We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

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You forgot about trying to see who could get their sled as far as the creek - the winner went it...

And spanking was a good deterrant. Sometimes all Mom had to do was fold the belt and then SNAP it. That was the last warning...

And we played ball in the street.

Haha hoo hoo, good additions! :p :p

What a great post, yes, we survived, and many of us thrived.

It is truly sad to make the comparison with today's society.

What scares me is this.

Every generation, has to come up with a way to "shock" the previous one.

We grew our hair long, painted flowers all over our VW Buses, wore frayed bell bottom jeans, and protested the war.

Now, they put fish hooks through their lips, eyebrows, even their noses, they place tattoo's all over their bodies, they dress like the vampires and demons from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, they listen to so called music full of foul language and horrendous references to sex, women, and society in general.

Yes, they have "shocked" me, don't know about everyone else.

The really scary thing for me though is this:

What the hell is the next generation going to come up with to "shock" this one??

It also might be noted that those who committed crimes against children did not get to spend many years basking in the comfort of a jail cell or prison day room. Families took care of those who harmed relatives and were considered in the right to do it. Teachers received respect and the vice principal owned a large wooden perforated paddle. TV still showed respect for women and sex was not a part of every advertisement. We ate dinner as a family and there were no excuses not to be at the table at 6:00 pm. Families had 2 parents in the home that were married to each other and marriage wasn't disposable. Most families could survive on the father's income. Unions protected workers and their wages. Times might have been tough at times, but we were much better off when we considered ourselves Americans and supported other Americans instead of cheap foreign labor. Companies got greedy and the bottom fell out. Reagan's huge tax increases on the average working family killed the "good times"

Where I grew up a child with divorced parents was a rare exception.

Not only did I survive riding my bike without a helmet and pads, I usually had another friend sitting on the handle bars while another was in the seat while I stood to pedal. (Yes, it was quite a sight.)

Fireworks! They're banned in the state I reside in now, but where I grew up (southeastern Arkansas) our church youth organization ran the firework stand. About half a dozen kids would load up in the back of my brother's El Camino ane we would ride around town shooting bottle rockets at friends. Now a days I would imagine that would be tantamount to a terrorist attack.

If you did something incredibly stupid or destructive around town your mother knew about it before you could get home. That was way before cell phones, Email, IM or chat!

You knew your neighbors, your neighbor's momma and where they went to church. (I don't even know my current neighbor's last name.)

GREAT stuff!

... I'm recalling now: When I was in elementary school spankings were issued by the techers themselves!

Between 4th and 6th grade I was spanked several times in school. Once by the Principal herself and several other times by teachers.

... and I remember well; the paddle had a label on it "The Board of Education".

... and it had holes in it.

The "position" was bent over with hands on a chair while the administrator of the punishment gave some swings.

I'm confident that those spanking did not particularly do me any good, but I am positive that it was a good deterrent for others who were thinking of doing what I did to get the punishment. :p

Hello RickJ:

Yeah. I survived those times too. I loved it.

But, my family couldn't join a "restricted" country club. Black people couldn't drink from the same fountain as whites. People regularly got a slap on the wrist for being drunk on the road, and kids DID fall out of the back of pickups.

I'm sure there's a point where they should have stopped making laws, but I don't know where that point is. Even now they come up with a good one once in a while.

In the country I'm in, there no seat belt laws. Women regularly carry their infants on their laps. I wish they couldn't do that.

excon

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Originally Posted by RickJ

GREAT stuff!!

...I'm recalling now: When I was in elementary school spankings were issued by the techers themselves!

Between 4th and 6th grade I was spanked several times in school. Once by the Principal herself and several other times by teachers.

...and I remember well; the paddle had a label on it "The Board of Education".

...and it had holes in it.

The "position" was bent over with hands on a chair while the administrator of the punishment gave some swings.

I'm confident that those spanking did not particularly do me any good, but I am positive that it was a good deterrent for others who were thinking of doing what I did to get the punishment. :p

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In the school system I attended they administered paddlings all the way to the 12th grade. The Head Coach for football commissed a specialty paddle from the shop class. It was cut from 1/2 inch plexiglass and had holes drilled in it to reduce drag. It was usually used on the boys but on rare occasions a girl got "fired up."

We had one of those country clubs, too, excon. My mother refused to join and would never allow me to go as a guest of someone else. I didn't understand it then - only thought I was being cheated out of a chance to go to the pool. I understand it now and am glad I didn't go.

Our high school had another policy that would be heresy today. If you were a Juior or Senior and filled out a form they would allow you to smoke - in a special designated area. Nearly every teacher smoked at that time, so as long as your parents didn't care - you were allowed.

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Originally Posted by Emland

Where I grew up a child with divorced parents was a rare exception.

Not only did I survive riding my bike without a helmet and pads, I usually had another friend sitting on the handle bars while another was in the seat while I stood to pedal. (Yes, it was quite a sight.)

Fireworks! They're banned in the state I reside in now, but where I grew up (southeastern Arkansas) our church youth organization ran the firework stand. About half a dozen kids would load up in the back of my brother's El Camino ane we would ride around town shooting bottle rockets at friends. Now a days I would imagine that would be tantamount to a terrorist attack.

If you did something incredibly stupid or destructive around town your mother knew about it before you could get home. That was way before cell phones, Email, IM or chat!

You knew your neighbors, your neighbor's momma and where they went to church. (I don't even know my current neighbor's last name.)

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Oh, neighbors! You're so right - my mother was part of some underground of Motherhood. She knew what I did the minute I did it - and long before I arrived home. We knew all the neighbors and if something happened all the neighbors raced out of their houses. We also had a dog and he went everywhere with us - no leash laws, no problems. Nobody bothered us, either, with that dog standing there.

If I did something a neighbor didn't like, first the neighbor told me, then she told my mother, then my mother told my father. I gave up any thoughts of a criminal life early on.

And, yes, we ate dinner as a family every night - no exceptions, no eating early, no eating by yourself. And we talked about anything and everything during dinner and often after dinner, over dessert.

I knew 2 people who were in 1 parent homes - one's mother was widowed and the other was (gasp!) divorced. If other people were divorced, re-married, had step parents, I don't know. Nobody talked about it.

I went to a graduation ceremony this week and the girl who was graduating said that 1/3 of the kids in her class are in 1 parent homes. Surprised me.

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Originally Posted by J_9

"Mommy, am I gonna get a spanking?" Can be enough punishment!!! :p

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My mother had no qualms about smacking somebody on the rear end - well until we were teenagers.

But, oh, even worse was my father - if the offense was bad enough the big guns would be brought in (my father) and it would start as a meeting on the hallway stairs and it would go along the lines of: "I hear you upset your mother," go on to what a good woman she was (and she was/is), how much she loved me, how much she sacrificed for "us" kids and would end up with the offender sobbing. And if you made my mother cry - then the speech got somewhat longer and involved moral character. I don't ever remember my father raising his voice but I would have preferred it (or hitting) over "the speech." Then I would go to my room to "think about things."

I was raised for a number of years by Grandparents and my Grandmother never said anything if I misbehaved but my Grandfather would come home and he and I would sit on the front porch or in the livingroom and he would rock in his chair and we would "talk" about what was expected of me, how proud of me he was but it was difficult to be proud when I did bad things - and I would end up sobbing then, too.

So in my case, smack me and get it over with. PLEASE don't talk to me if I do something wrong.

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Originally Posted by excon

Hello RickJ:

Yeah. I survived those times too. I loved it.

But, my family couldn't join a "restricted" country club. Black people couldn't drink from the same fountain as whites. People regularly got a slap on the wrist for being drunk on the road, and kids DID fall out of the back of pickups.

I'm sure there's a point where they shoulda stopped making laws, but I dunno where that point is. Even now they come up with a good one once in a while.

In the country I'm in, there no seat belt laws. Women regularly carry their infants on their laps. I wish they couldn't do that.

excon

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MOST excellent, Excon.

Why, I don't know... but I get a big grin with every reply in this thread :p

As I'm chatting with a lot of parents these days it seems that the pendulum is swinging back to being more liberal parents. Kids are allowed to wander further in the neighbourhood, much more outdoor play, restrictions are being placed on electronics, kids allowed to try risky stuff at the park, etc.

Of course I live in a medium sized city in Canada, not sure if that stuff would fly in the US.

NeedKarma,

It is WAY different here in the states.

I garuntee that if you were to walk into a household, both parents wouldn't be there because they were either working or divorced and the kids would be sitting on the couch with their video games, cell phones or T.V.

In fact, now-a-days because both parents have to work or are divorced the kids (ages infant to about 12) are either at a daycare or some sort of child care facility. I do know that in this time, both parents have to work (but that's not always the case) to make a living which means less time with raising their children. It's practically the child care's employees that raise the kids.

This isn't the same for every single houshold in America but the numbers are high.

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Originally Posted by RickJ

MOST excellent, Excon.

Why, I dunno...but I get a big grin with every reply in this thread :p

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Hello again, Rick:

Let me add this..

Even though the Mexicans are poor, and they have no Bill of Rights, and their kids fall out of pickups, THEY believe they have more freedom than we do. I think they're right.

excon

High Fives all around!

We never skipped school, and if we did we were terrified of being caught! If we did it, it was for the sheer thrill of seeing if we would get caught! When we did... and we always did... we always knew that not only did we have to have "the big talk" from our parents, but from our teachers and the principle. We always had consequences for doing it. If we got suspended, it wasn't a free pass to have a day away from school. It was worse than school! We were given twice as many chores, and twice as much homework to do.

It wasn't often we ever had a "snow day", or "rain day" and I walked to school with a plastic garbage bag as a rain coat, with a hole cut out for my head, and bags over my shoes, when I needed something in a pinch. We came home to homemade chocolate chips cookies and hot chocolate on cold or rainy days.

If Mom wasn't home when we got out of school, we knew to go to my Dad's store or to the neighbors. We had charge accounts at the neighborhood grocery store. If we ever stole anything (which we did, and learned not to) we would be taken directly to the store, and stand in front of customers and the store owners, while our parents told everyone to recognise the faces of thieves! Then we were made to work for free for the store after school,. sweeping, dusting, etc.

There was no such thing as "spring break!" They were called summer holidays, and the whole family would all hop in the trailer and go camping! We would catch fish and have them for supper, after we had cleaned them... and occasionally put a hook in Dad's leg (lol)

Everyone wonders why kids are so overweight these days? They sit around on their brand new computer that is replaced every yr. They are allowed to sit and watch violent movies, and have McDonalds on speed dial. They need the newest blackberry, and text while they are driving and eating Taco Bell, while trying to find the song they want to hear on their I-Pod, all at the same time. If someone calls them fat, their mother goes and beats them up. If they "happen" to come home from school, and find that their mother hasn't made them something, they will sit and stuff themselves full of junk and then take off to the mall with the credit card they've stolen from their parents.

I know not all kids are like that these days, thank God, but there sure are a lot of them who figure they are entitled just because they were born!

I would love to be back to the simpler times! Oooopppss, I just showed my age here didn't I? Oh well, I'm proud of it! :)

Oh the good old days, I remember them well.

Games night, canasta, payday, monopoly, we only had three channels on TV and nothing was ever on. There were no cell phones, no text messaging, no computers. I'm an only child and still I always had something to do. I had my bike and an imagination, that's all I needed. I had friends, some close by, some further, and we got into all sorts of trouble.

Camping, roasting marshmallows, fun family time together. Pets, school buses, one car per family. A dad that worked a mom that stayed home, and always enough time and money for the things we needed. Lots of love and lots of hugs. What happened?

Here's what happened. Instant messaging, cell phones in the hands of 10 years olds (who are they calling?) texting, satellite, Xbox, Wii, and all the other wonders of gaming. Kids that can tell you what's on TV, when it's on and the channel it's on, but can't tell you where the nearest playground is. It's sad.

I've said it before, I want my own mountain, with no cable TV, no satellite, and no phone, far away from civilization, just me, hubby and the kids. I'd miss all of you though. ;):)

Oh, can't forget the pets, they're coming too. :);)

I have a cell phone but that's only because I don't have a house phone. My boyfriend and I share a plan together with 800 minutes per month and 200 texts for $5 every month (even then I don't exceed 200 texts a month). This just goes to show that we don't use our cell phones that much, only to talk to each other and emergencies.

To be honest, and I hope I don't offend all of those excessive cell phone users but I can't stand people that are on their cell phone 24/7, literally, and that isn't just talking, it could be texting too. It drives me insane. It's like when I try to talk to some people, I feel like I'm talking to their phone because as the conversation is going on, their eyes are glued to it and I can't help but look as well. Or how about those cell phone drivers. The ones who are on their phones while driving. They're swerving every where and switching lanes without even looking. As Peter (Family Guy) says 'You know what really grinds my gears... ' This is one of them.

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Originally Posted by bEaUtIfUlbRuNeTtE

I have a cell phone but that's only because I don't have a house phone. My boyfriend and I share a plan together with 800 minutes per month and 200 texts for $5 every month (even then I don't exceed 200 texts a month). This just goes to show that we don't use our cell phones that much, only to talk to eachother and emergencies.

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My favorite is people in restaurants who are discussing their hemorrhoid surgery on their cell phone at the top of their lungs while I'm sitting there, trying to eat.

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Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

My favorite is people in restaurants who are discussing their hemorrhoid surgery on their cell phone at the top of their lungs while I'm sitting there, trying to eat.

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OMG that's just gross. Judy, I feel for you.

I mean COME ON people. I know the invention of cell phones was a world turning point for society but it doesn't have to take over your lives.

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We had charge accounts at the neighborhood grocery store

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Find me one that doesn't sell gas, and take plastic nowadays. Back in the day, the grocer WAS a neighbor, and there was no plastic, nor computers, so he had to write it down, or remember everyone's face.

When did spanking become illegal? Must have missed that one.

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Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

My favorite is people in restaurants who are discussing their hemorrhoid surgery on their cell phone at the top of their lungs while I'm sitting there, trying to eat.

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I lean in and make sure they know I'm listening.

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Originally Posted by NeedKarma

I lean in and make sure they know I'm listening.

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Good idea and perhaps interrupting and say, "I'm sorry but I have a question here - " might end it.

Nah, if they are this obtuse in the first place -

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Originally Posted by talaniman

Find me one that doesn't sell gas, and take plastic nowadays. Back in the day, the grocer WAS a neighbor, and there was no plastic, nor computers, so he had to write it down, or remember everyones face.

When did spanking become illegal?? Must have missed that one.

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We knew what "wait until your Dad gets home" meant! It wasn't just a spanking either, we got the belt! :eek: I don't think we were scarred for life because of it! It taught us respect. I don't believe in spanking in every situation, but I do believe that the occasional punishment of that nature is sometimes warranted. It wasn't a beating, it was a quick snap of the belt, and oh yeah... it hurt! It did not teach me to be a violent person, in fact it taught me quite the opposite.

I think it is insane these days, that every child knows that if they are angry with their parents, and they get a smack on the rear, or there is a raised voice, they can scream child abuse! If it was like that when I was young, every parent in town would have been behind bars! ;)

These days the kids rule the home in a lot of families. They demand things that they think they are entitled to, and treat their parents like servants. It's a complete mess!

Kids nowadays have to many things too. I'm guilty of doing that. I want the best for my kids, I want to be able to give them everything, but I'm realizing that it's not doing any good. Now they have to earn the things they want. If they want a toy and it's not their birthday or Christmas, well, we have two dogs, and tons of dog poo in the yard, go clean it up, I'll pay you by the pound. ;) There are dishes that you can put away, and a broom that you can sweep the floor with. We have pets, water bottles that need to be filled, food dishes that need tending, etc. Kids today are given everything. I still want to know why a 10 year old needs a cell phone, I don't have a cell phone. ;)

I used to climb trees, play in the mud and stay out until dark!

I still remember the sound of dad snapping the belt!

Me too!!

I remember being out at night, dark, playing tag or hide and seek with the neighbor kids while the adults all congregated in someone's yard to talk and have drinks. No one worried that something would happen to us, because there wasn't any need to worry.

I remember riding my bike to school, and not having to lock it up, because no one would steal it. My son's bike was stolen off our driveway last year. :(

I remember having a lemonade stand, and being thrilled because I made 10 cents, even though mom spent at least 2 dollars to make the lemonade. :)

I remember driving in a car with am radio only, no air conditioner and you didn't have to wear your seat belt.

I remember when gas was 35 cents a litre, I miss those days, we're up to $1.39, or more, I haven't checked in a while. ;)

Ah, the good old days, what happened?

Alty, gas where I am (Massachusetts) is $4.03/gallon and that's just for the regular. EEEKKK!!

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Originally Posted by bEaUtIfUlbRuNeTtE

Alty, gas where I am (Massachusetts) is $4.03/gallon and that's just for the regular. EEEKKK!!!

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It's - I believe - $4.49 (give or take) here - I filled up the car yesterday and got gas for the lawn mower and it was $94.

There are signs that the pumps stop at $100 so if the pump freezes and you haven't filled your tank pay for that transaction and start a second transaction.

Well us Canucks buy our gas by the litre, so it actually works out around the same as US prices. Sucks doesn't it!

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Originally Posted by starbuck8

Well us Canucks buy our gas by the litre, so it actually works out around the same as US prices. Sucks doesn't it!

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Oh, don't do this to me. I'm severely math challenged (and I'm not kidding) and I have a terrible time with kilometers. I HATE it when I work in Canada - the witness is prattling on and I'm thinking, "Let's see. If the distance from here to there is 2 kilometers, carry the one, let's see, that would be - umm, 2 kilometers would be -" and standing there, looking blank.

And then the exchange rate - !

Now you're going to throw LITRES at me - ?

If Canada ever invades the US and takes over I'm doomed!

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Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

Oh, don't do this to me. I'm severely math challenged (and I'm not kidding) and I have a terrible time with kilometers. I HATE it when I work in Canada - the witness is prattling on and I'm thinking, "Let's see. If the distance from here to there is 2 kilometers, carry the one, let's see, that would be - umm, 2 kilometers would be -" and standing there, looking blank.

And then the exchange rate - !

Now you're going to throw LITRES at me - ?

If Canada ever invades the US and takes over I'm doomed!

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Should I throw Farenheint and Celsius in the mix for you? :p

When I was going to school, we grew up on the standard system, and we didn't change over to metric until around the 11th grade. So give me miles and gallons anyday. I live here and I still have a hard time converting them.

If I'm driving somewhere, if the sign says 40kms, I cut that in half, and add a bit, and that's how I figure out how far it is. LOL! (either that or I just look down at the conversion on the speedometer.

What is really strange, is trying to figure out the temp. In the winter time when it's cold, I have to go by Celsius or I have no idea. Versus summer time when it's hot, I need to find out what the temp is in Fahrenheit or I have no idea. Pretty strange I know. I'm not even sure where the cut off point is between cold and hot. Haha!

All I know is that our gas prices are the same no matter how you look at it, and it's just crazy. I live in Alberta that is nicknamed (all hell for a basement) because of our gas and oil. A major part of our population works in the oil and gas industry, yet to be fair, they charge us the same prices. ;)