Sunday, November 25, 2007

We Survived Our Childhood

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's, 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!! First, 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 wa s 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 P LAYING!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, Nintendo'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! S, 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?!

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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

back then, there were no pedophiles, less cars on the road, less accidents, ect etc, the world has changed and society has adjusted, get over it.

Anonymous said...

Amen brother. Better life, thanks for reminding me of the good ole days.

Anonymous said...

now we live in fear instead of just living...and yes there were pedophiles, but the news now is what makes a difference. Yes the world has changed and we as people have too, Funny...we all have changed in different ways...but all ways remember... a child is born so innocent not knowing anything about this O so terrible world...have fun do the the things that make you happy...this is the present...it is a gift that you are here...cherish it...you may be gone in any second...take heed and learn the way of the old and wise yes wise, that old saying, been there, did that...has a little truth in it...LIVE EVERY DAY LIKES ITS YOUR LAST, LOVE LIKE YOU HAVEN'T LOVED BEFORE, AND QUIT CRYING ABOUT THE WAY THINGS ARE, UNLESS YOU HAVE TRIED TO CHANGE THEM YOURSELF...LOVE YOUR MOTHER AND FATHER RESPECT THEM AND ALL OF YOUR ELDERS.

Anonymous said...

Whats your point May 13 anonymous? Were you around then?
Born in '53 and lived that life exactly as stated & I guess survived,,,a couple bumps in the road, but wouldn't trade it for growing up now!

Anonymous said...

Very well said. I'm a 48 model man. I grew up just like that. Life was simple fun, imagative and a great way to be raised. Would not trade my childhood for the way kids are raised today.