How times have changed....just had to post!

jazzy1
jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL BORN IN 1930's, 1940's, 50's, 60's, 70's and Early 80's !!! First, you survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a tin, and didn't get tested for diabetes. Then after that trauma, your baby cots were covered with bright colored lead-based paints. You had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when you rode your bikes, you had no helmets, not to mention, the risks you took hitchhiking .. As children, you would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a van - loose - was always great fun.

You drank water from the garden hosepipe and NOT from a bottle. You shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this. You ate cakes, white bread and real butter and drank pop with sugar in it, but you weren't overweight because...... YOU WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!! You 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 you all day. And you were OK. You would spend hours building your go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out you forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, you learned to solve the problem . You did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no mobile phones, no text messaging, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........

YOU HAD FRIENDS and you went outside and found them!  You fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents you played with worms(well most boys did) and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever. You made up games with sticks and tennis balls and although you were told it would happen, you did not poke out any eyes. You rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just yelled for them! Local teams 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 you out if you broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!

This generation has 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. You had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and you learned HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL! And 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 our lives for our own good. And while you are at it, forward it to your kids so they will know how brave their parents were.

Comments

  • nempark
    nempark Member Posts: 681
    jan where did you find this!!!!!

    I was about 6 years old and I had a neighbour who used to pour honey in her hands and we all licked off of it.  non of us got sick. Also there was a drain gutter that ran at the back of the house all the way through to the next block it was always filled with rain water and the neighbour's fruit trees would lean over the fence and all the fruits would fall in that gutter we would all go look for the fruits and ate them guava , mangoes, donce, cherries and many more that you are not familiar with.....no body got sick.I remember when walking home from school a lady would call me and ask me to help her in her garden to pull out some weeds and when I was finished she would give me 2 dollars and a small loaf of bread.how precious was that.Gone are those days.  When I read your post I had a good smile.  Also we had down syndrome child among us and when we were late for school or late going home we literally used to drag him around and he would still wait for us every day.I remember one of my brothers telling him that there is noting wrong with you, you are just too lazy, so he had no choice but to keep up with the pace. We had no problems back then. How did you treat a cut on your foot?  we used to sit on the grass and take a stick and bit the cut until it stop bleading. HAHA. it worked. never got infected.  No paper towel to clean it. thanks jan

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  • nancibee
    nancibee Member Posts: 59 Member
    Five Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Kids Do

    Ted Talks - Gever Tulley, Founder of the Tinkering School from his book excerpt.

     

    Number one is play with fire.

    http://www.ted.com/talks/gever_tulley_on_5_dangerous_things_for_kids.html

     

  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    nancibee said:

    Five Dangerous Things You Should Let Your Kids Do

    Ted Talks - Gever Tulley, Founder of the Tinkering School from his book excerpt.

     

    Number one is play with fire.

    http://www.ted.com/talks/gever_tulley_on_5_dangerous_things_for_kids.html

     

    Nanci

    I watched this vido and it has great insight!!!  Most of these techniques and ideas are taught in boy scouts and some in girl scouts.  Goes back to kids showing responsibility and safety skills to play with fire and a swords.  As well, many of us as parents are so "over protective" these devices would never make it in the hands of our young children.

     

    Thanks

    Jan

  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    nempark said:

    jan where did you find this!!!!!

    I was about 6 years old and I had a neighbour who used to pour honey in her hands and we all licked off of it.  non of us got sick. Also there was a drain gutter that ran at the back of the house all the way through to the next block it was always filled with rain water and the neighbour's fruit trees would lean over the fence and all the fruits would fall in that gutter we would all go look for the fruits and ate them guava , mangoes, donce, cherries and many more that you are not familiar with.....no body got sick.I remember when walking home from school a lady would call me and ask me to help her in her garden to pull out some weeds and when I was finished she would give me 2 dollars and a small loaf of bread.how precious was that.Gone are those days.  When I read your post I had a good smile.  Also we had down syndrome child among us and when we were late for school or late going home we literally used to drag him around and he would still wait for us every day.I remember one of my brothers telling him that there is noting wrong with you, you are just too lazy, so he had no choice but to keep up with the pace. We had no problems back then. How did you treat a cut on your foot?  we used to sit on the grass and take a stick and bit the cut until it stop bleading. HAHA. it worked. never got infected.  No paper towel to clean it. thanks jan

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    Nempark!

    It was posted on a friend's FB page to her group.  I simply couldn't resist to send to others, hoping everyone would get a kick of how life has changed in this area.  

    I remember growing up and my brother and I would go down the street (approx 1/4 miles) to play with other kids IN THE STREET (subdivision)...no parents around.  We would be in this area in/out of other kids homes for lunch, etc, and not come home for hours until mom would ring a German cow bell to come home for dinner.  Gee...today I'd never let my daughter leave without seeing her and if older, having a cell phone.  How crazed is that one hum??

    We rode bikes and played hide-and-seek in our backyard, not inside playing video games.  Also, we learned in school to add/substract and do more indepth math skills by hand, didn't rely on calculators.  

    My list could go on/on as comparing my upbringing environment to the one my 21 yr old daughter was raised in.  Very different, but in the end we've given her so much love and family time, in hopes this carries through to the days when she raises kids.

    Hugs

    Jan

     

  • txtrisha55
    txtrisha55 Member Posts: 693 Member
    I have seen this before and it is so true

    I remember that we had a whole group of kids on our street and then some visiting grandkids that showed up occasionally.  We took over the back yard of one of the girl’s houses that had no fence and had a creek running through it.  We cleaned up the yard and built a kitchen, with tables and chairs (out of big chalk rocks), built a couch too.  Kept our drinks in the creek to keep it cool and played there all day.  We would walk the creek to the all the way to the Zoo, going under bridges, railroad tracks, through tunnels, swim through some areas because it was so deep.  Saw fish, raccoons, possums, snakes, crayfish and all the other things that use to be in the wooden area and creeks.  We would store food under the table to keep it cool and out of the sun. Had different rooms going up the hill and would sit on the tree limbs that were low enough.  This same group had MDA talent shows in the garage and set up chairs on the drive way for our parents and neighbors to come to watch then donate the money for tickets to the MDA every September.  All of the girls took dance and tumbling, not gymnastics as it is called now.  Ran the whole street, road our bikes, skateboards and scooters down the hill and around the sharp corner at the bottom, sometimes we did not make around and hit the curb but jumped up to do it again.  But if we got in trouble and did something wrong, the house we were at, the parents would punish us and by the time we got home, our parents knew about it and punished us again. 

    Miss those days.  I think all the bad things that go on now were taking place back then too but there was no social media to tell us about it as it happened.

    Thanks Jan for sending us back down memory lane. trish

     

  • Kathy G.
    Kathy G. Member Posts: 244 Member

    I have seen this before and it is so true

    I remember that we had a whole group of kids on our street and then some visiting grandkids that showed up occasionally.  We took over the back yard of one of the girl’s houses that had no fence and had a creek running through it.  We cleaned up the yard and built a kitchen, with tables and chairs (out of big chalk rocks), built a couch too.  Kept our drinks in the creek to keep it cool and played there all day.  We would walk the creek to the all the way to the Zoo, going under bridges, railroad tracks, through tunnels, swim through some areas because it was so deep.  Saw fish, raccoons, possums, snakes, crayfish and all the other things that use to be in the wooden area and creeks.  We would store food under the table to keep it cool and out of the sun. Had different rooms going up the hill and would sit on the tree limbs that were low enough.  This same group had MDA talent shows in the garage and set up chairs on the drive way for our parents and neighbors to come to watch then donate the money for tickets to the MDA every September.  All of the girls took dance and tumbling, not gymnastics as it is called now.  Ran the whole street, road our bikes, skateboards and scooters down the hill and around the sharp corner at the bottom, sometimes we did not make around and hit the curb but jumped up to do it again.  But if we got in trouble and did something wrong, the house we were at, the parents would punish us and by the time we got home, our parents knew about it and punished us again. 

    Miss those days.  I think all the bad things that go on now were taking place back then too but there was no social media to tell us about it as it happened.

    Thanks Jan for sending us back down memory lane. trish

     

    Jan,
    I saw this on FB awhile

    Jan,

    I saw this on FB awhile back and loved it!

    I guess most of us on here are of the generation where we grew up running around our neighborhoods while dad was at work or relaxed and mom enjoyed some peace and quiet while we were out! Most of the kids in my neighborhood hung out together all day in the summers and after school. It didn't matter how old you were...everyone played tag, kickball, biked and walked around the block, and went swimming together. We created our own street carnivals, plays and new games!

    We drank 10 cent packets of kool-aid with a cup of sugar by the gallon, tested out new drinks like 'fizzies, walked up to the store to get penny candy, and chewed gum like it was going out of style with our transistor radios belting out from Bandstand and Soul Train! We dug for worms while snacking with dirty fingers, were always barefoot, and we hadn't even heard of sunscreen! Getting a tan was a competition! We used chemicals like 'Sun-In' to lighten or bleach our hair and drank straight from the water hose when we were thirsty.

    And yup, you knew you better mind your manners and behave b/c any of the mom's on the block could deal with you being 'bad' without a call being made to Social Services, and when you got home you definitely got it twice! Those of us in Catholic School like myself sometimes got it three times..lol..

    Oh, what a trip down memory lane! Thanks Jan!

    Kathy

  • jazzy1
    jazzy1 Member Posts: 1,379
    Kathy G. said:

    Jan,
    I saw this on FB awhile

    Jan,

    I saw this on FB awhile back and loved it!

    I guess most of us on here are of the generation where we grew up running around our neighborhoods while dad was at work or relaxed and mom enjoyed some peace and quiet while we were out! Most of the kids in my neighborhood hung out together all day in the summers and after school. It didn't matter how old you were...everyone played tag, kickball, biked and walked around the block, and went swimming together. We created our own street carnivals, plays and new games!

    We drank 10 cent packets of kool-aid with a cup of sugar by the gallon, tested out new drinks like 'fizzies, walked up to the store to get penny candy, and chewed gum like it was going out of style with our transistor radios belting out from Bandstand and Soul Train! We dug for worms while snacking with dirty fingers, were always barefoot, and we hadn't even heard of sunscreen! Getting a tan was a competition! We used chemicals like 'Sun-In' to lighten or bleach our hair and drank straight from the water hose when we were thirsty.

    And yup, you knew you better mind your manners and behave b/c any of the mom's on the block could deal with you being 'bad' without a call being made to Social Services, and when you got home you definitely got it twice! Those of us in Catholic School like myself sometimes got it three times..lol..

    Oh, what a trip down memory lane! Thanks Jan!

    Kathy

    Kathy

    Sun-in?  Oh my does that bring back memories.  I remember one summer using this on my dark brown hair and I'd come inside to view the color change in my mirror.  Well, kept putting more on until my hair was STRAWBERRY BLONDE!~~~~  I looked like Lucille Ball with a short body...lol!  Then I was using iodine mixed in baby oil for suntan lotion....can you imagine!  Wonder how we made it thru.  

    How about all the old records?  I've inherited my moms stash when we moved her from a home to her retirement home. Bet I've got a huge box of 75 record albums...now what the heck do we do with them?  Notice a few people out there in internet land do buy them, so might be an option.  Better in someone elses home vs. taking up space in mine.

     

    Oh the memories......

    Jan

  • nempark
    nempark Member Posts: 681
    Jan, We can go on and on

    Jan, I just keep smiling and smiling.  So true, I love it. Thanks for the reminders of what a wonderful life we had. (Thank God and still have)  There is a magazine that my congregation printed and one of the topics is about technology.  "Is it a Blessing or a Curse"? I guess when used in the right manner it could be a blessing and a useful tool. Love and good health to all.  Uh! I still have my vinyl records, really just taking up space. I will be moving soon and I plan to clean up.

    I hope everyone who is feeling gloomy or is not doing so well read these blogs, it certainly will bring you down memory lane and put a little smile on your face despite the aches and pains.

  • Sara Zipora
    Sara Zipora Member Posts: 231
    Couldn't help but pipe in too

    My husband was the Orthodox Rabbi of a small New England town. Almost all of my kids' play friends, they went to a Jewish parochial school one town over, we're Catholic.  So many great stories. Two come to mind. First the neighborhood kids playing hide and seek outdoors with my four on Sataurday. As it is getting darker there seems to be a huddle in the middle of the block. Thinking that someone got hurt I go to them. There they all were trying to count if they could see the first three stars of night which would mean our Sabbath was over and maybe we could cook fresh popcorn! 

    The second was Haloween, we don't observe All Saints Day, but we always had candy and stuff waiting for the neighborhood kids to come by. One of the mothers commented on how sad it was that our kids missed the dress up and get candy holiday. Yes, we do have one like it and I told her about Purim. The week before, she had asked her priest for the date, months after October! After Checking for kosher candies, she told me the neighborhood was ready for my kids.

    And dress up and go around collecting they did!

    Them were the days!

    Thanks Jazzy for the memories!

     

    Sara

     

  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    Thanks for posting this,

    Thanks for posting this, Jan!

     

    I always like seeing this when it comes up.    It is amazing we even survived!   But after all, we all are survivors, aren't we!!

     

    Kathy

  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    jazzy1 said:

    Kathy

    Sun-in?  Oh my does that bring back memories.  I remember one summer using this on my dark brown hair and I'd come inside to view the color change in my mirror.  Well, kept putting more on until my hair was STRAWBERRY BLONDE!~~~~  I looked like Lucille Ball with a short body...lol!  Then I was using iodine mixed in baby oil for suntan lotion....can you imagine!  Wonder how we made it thru.  

    How about all the old records?  I've inherited my moms stash when we moved her from a home to her retirement home. Bet I've got a huge box of 75 record albums...now what the heck do we do with them?  Notice a few people out there in internet land do buy them, so might be an option.  Better in someone elses home vs. taking up space in mine.

     

    Oh the memories......

    Jan

    Old Records

    Jan:

     

    With regard to the old records, at one of our church functions there was a spin art booth and they used the old albums and used them to make spin art.  (spin art - dropping paint on a spinning object to make a design)    Laughing

     

    Kathy

  • RoseyR
    RoseyR Member Posts: 471 Member
    Thanks, Jan--so True!

     

    As a college teacher in a major city, I can confirm that technology hasn't made young people happier.

    Recent essays show how lonely they feel; one, writing in class on his birthday, said, "Today is my birthday.  Years ago I could count on a few hugs and a few gifts from my family.  Last year all I got was a text message, 'Happy Birthday,' and this year is likely to be the same.  Even dinner at our house isn't the same.  When it's ready--although we are just a few rooms away--we get a text message, 'Dinner is Ready.'"

     

    Another young woman wrote, "I would rather text my new boyfriend than see him in person.  If I see him in person, I might run out of things to say."  

     

    Another young man wrote, "I am so relieved when I come to school to see most of my classmates on their Ipods because then I don't have to say 'hello' or interract with them."

     

    And a young female wrote, "Although my Dad finally got out of prison two years ago, whenever he comes to pick me up at school, he is always on his BlackBerry, so he never asks how my day was."

     

    HAS IT REALLY COME TO THIS?  

     

    What a cold, clinical world many of our youth are growing up in.  And what a relief that we, in contrast, were forced to interact, face to face and could actually have dinner and talk to parents who weren't obsessed with their own cell phones.  And that we got to play outside, in fresh air, instead of being cooped up indoors staring into computer screens.  Ah, yes, "the good old days."

     

    Thanks for reminding us of them, Jan.

    ROSEY R

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    THEN and NOW

    JAN:

     

    Just to add to you list (one or two may have repeated), but I added the consequence if it happened today.

     

    Then                                      Now

    Gather a group of kids                   Must be in an organized sport and must have

    to play ball                                        started playing before kindergarten

    Use to ride in the back of                Parents get pulled over and face criminal charges

    pickup truck for ice cream              for endangering the welfare of children

    Find odd objects of wood, etc.       If it doesn’t come in a box with instructions and parts,

    and build go carts, tree houses      it doesn’t happen.

    etc.

    Had to try out for sports, band,       Now everyone makes it whether you just sit on the

    chorus, swimming.                           bench or not or even if you can’t play or sing, etc.

    Only first place winners got           Everyone gets a trophy so that there are no hard

    trophies                                            feelings.  (Where's the incentive to do better?)

    If you didn't make a team,                Parents file complaints or lawsuits against the organization

    you went home and cried and        or make such a commotion that your child gets on the team anyway

    tried to do better next time

     

    When you were 12 or 13 you          Today, parents are charged again with endangering

    could watch your little brothers      the welfare of children

    and sisters by yourself

    Kids had lemonade stands               Must have permits to sell or you will be fined and you

                                                                    have to report your income

    Would shoot off firecrackers             Now you would be charged with Terrorist Threats

    or other small fireworks                     or other similar charges

    Drive-in Theaters with family            Alone in your room on Skype, computer, ipads, etc.

    and friends           

    Also, have you ever seen the movie "October Sky"?   It was about the Rocket Boys.   How they learned to make rockets.  If they did what they did back then today, they would be criminally charged with so many "crimes".   What would have happened to NASA?

    Thanks again, Jan, for sharing this.