Tuesday, February 12, 2008

I received this email from my friend Denise the other day:

TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930s, 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 was always a special treat.

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

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, 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 computers, 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?!

The quote of the month is by Jay Leno:

"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"



What do you think? I think what struck me most about it was the fact that most kids played outside all day. Mother's didn't take their kids everywhere everyday. Kids didn't play inside with their friends all day. Parents didn't intervene in every little problem. I can imagine how much easier my life would be today if I didn't have the whole neighborhood running through my house everyday, if I didn't have to drop my kids off and pick them up from somewhere everyday, and didn't have to solve every fight that breaks out. I'd have more time to get my chores done, and just relax in the evenings. I actually try to bring as much of this back as I can, but it's still not like it use to be. The one thing I didn't agree with: Little League tryouts. My boys would be crushed if they couldn't play baseball. I love that every kid can play.



Also, I got an award! From Girlymom at The Red Door:






I really enjoy her blog, too. She has 4 kids also, but hers are all girls and each one are two years apart. Boy is that going to be fun when they become teenagers!


I pass this award onto: Don Mill Diva. She's a new blogging friend and I've really been enjoying her blog.

31 comments:

girlymom said...

I have read this before and LOVE IT!! It is a reminder to loosen up. I actually think I am still one of those moms who lives "Way back then" I don't sign my children up for every little thing and drive them all over, they play in the backyard, the toy room, make forts, entertain themselves. We don't have friends over all the time and the tv is limited...we don't own video games- imagine that. I feel like we are in the dark ages sometimes, but I love it. My children know how to play together, communicate and use their imaginations. I hope this will help make them better people as they grow up.

Glad that you liked the award! :)

Irene said...

Yeah, I liked that email too. Even though things were so "unsafe" and it is a miracle we survived without all that government "help", I still think things were much better.

Mary said...

Funny.......I just got that email today :)

Debbie @ Three Weddings said...

I often find myself stopping and thinking about what my mom would do. We grew up watching Tom and Jerry and we turned out ok. So when I see it and think "Wow, that's violent" I just walk away. The kids like it. But, I need to send them outdoor more. Once the weather gets nice and I get the backyard doggie doo doo free, I will. Oh, how I am looking forward to that.

Congrats on the award.

kimmy said...

I've read that before and I think it is so funny! Thanks for sharing!

Kimmy

Kitty said...

Congratulations on your award Maria - very much deserved.

I've seen that email before, but it's good to see it again. I think I'm quite lucky - my kids like to go outside to play with their friends as much as they can, and I'm happy to let them - as long as they're within my sight! x

Theresa said...

Hello. I was sent by Shellie to check out your fun blog. I have to agree...it is fun. I love the email from Denise. And Jay Leno is right on. Theresa

Maria (also Bia) said...

So, so true...I've heard all this before from my parents and my in-laws!

And I agree with the playing outside part...especially during the summer, my boys are not allowed to play any video games until the evening in order to encourage them to play outside during daylight hours.

God bless, and congratulations on the award.

Kidzmama said...

I was just sitting with Clever last night telling her about our road trips growing up. My brother and I used to take our seatbelts off as soon a we hit the highway. One of us would spread out on the back seat and the other one got the floor behind the front seats. That was the life!

Kellan said...

I just loved this!! "We had friends - and we went outside and found them" - that is what I remember the most and the thing that I loved the most!! This was great. Congrats on the award - see you soon. Kellan

Lizzy in the Burbs said...

Hi, Maria!

I've received this e-mail before, and it's really so true. It's a shame that the world we live in today is just so different than when we were kids. I used to go out to play and be gone (in my neighborhood) for hours at a time. I never "checked" in to let my mom know I was alright, and she didn't worry about my safety. What was going to happen? Kids today have really lost their innocence out of necessity, it's sad.

Of course, there are the "hover" parents (hopefully I'm not one of them) but they do need our assistance getting places sometimes.

Congrats on your award!

Lizzy

Amy said...

oh sooooo true!

we just simply played and called for hour friends! we didn't call them on the phone.

dawn klinge said...

Congrats on the award. This most made me think of how I wish it were still so easy for kids to just go outside and find friends to play with. It requires so much planning ahead for play dates now because kids are so busy.

Ally said...

Ain't it the truth!? It's amazing we survived. What a different world it is today...

OHmommy said...

HA! So true! That list was sooo incredibly true! LOL. We survived!

Congrats on the award!

Suburban Correspondent said...

The problem is that all the other kids are in activities, so my kids are left outside by themselves. And people act as though you are abusing your children if you don't sign them up for things. The kids act that way, too. It is a very frustrating situation for me. It is so much healthier for them to be running around outside, but now, even if the other kids aren't at some scheduled activity, their mothers are letting them sit inside in front of the TV or the computer.

Drives me crazy...

Amy said...

I hadn't seen this one before...but it is so true...I can remember getting on my bike in the morning and not coming home until dark in the summer...and we were all "ok"...today I can't imagine letting my kids do the same thing...

Lester R.N. said...

I like that e-mail. I want Owen to grow up playing outside with friends the dog! I hate video games always have and if I could have it my way Owen will never own one. I think I will lose the battle but I think the old way is a better way!!! Life is hard and I think kids need to understand that. My parents sure made me understand responsiblity very early on!

Don Mills Diva said...

Aww - that is so sweet! Thank you so much!

I have read that before but I still just love it because it's true.

Anonymous said...

This e-mail really takes me back, to the "good old days". Things were so different back then. Although each generation says the same thing about growing up. I mean how much worse can the times get?! I remember when you wanted to send your oldest to school, and I mentioned home schooling her. This was after a school shooting, close by (we don't even live in a bad area!). The socialization is so important, but our society is so bad lately. Where do you sacrifice? One last comment, do you remeber when you caught me running with the kids in your backyard? How nervous did you get until you realized it was me? The times have definitely changed since we were kids!

Roland Hulme said...

I grew up on a farm. When I was a kid, I'd scoff down bacon for breakfast, then head off with my dog and walk for miles and miles - not to be seen or heard from until I returned at 6pm.

I enjoyed having that freedom and independence. No wonder kids feel so rebellious these days. They're smothered and over protected. That's why they go a little crazy when they get a chance to be independent, instead of being introduced to the concept slowly.

Great post - we might not have had as many material things as kids today, but we surely had a lot more freedom and independence.

AutoSysGene said...

Make sus sound pretty thrilling, huh? Oh for such an innocent life again.

Congrats on the award!!

Lizzy in the Burbs said...

Hi, Maria!

If you get a free minute, would you please stop by my blog? I tagged you for a blogger/list meme thing (don't know what it is really!) But it's real easy to do. Thanks!

Lizzy

Karen said...

LOL - I love this! It truly is a wonder we survived childhood. Ah, the good old days.

Kellan said...

Hi Maria - thanks for coming by today. Hope you've had a good day - see you soon. Kellan

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Dropped by to let you know you've been Tagged!!! Cathy

Burgh Baby said...

Oh, how times have changed. For the worse.

Congrats on the award!

Ally said...

Congrats on the award. :)

I survived about 7 years of the 70's. What a list!!! So 'revolting' by today's standards, eh? (LOL :D) It's a miracle any of us are here talking right now!

Lizzy in the Burbs said...

Hi, Maria!

You can reach me at shebalouise@att.net

Lizzy

Kellan said...

Hey - HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY GIRL!!

No, I didn't get your e-mail. Send it to kellanrhodes@aol.com - I should get it. Thanks and have a great day - Kellan

Shellie said...

I heart this! I am an oldie but goodie, and I totally agree. People need to relax a lot more. If the pacifier falls on the floor, they will not get the bubonic plague either, just a few more antibodies. Sadly, some of those things have changed because the world isn't as safe, but most of it, I totally agree with. TOTALLY!! I refuse to get playstations, xboxes, etc. A few computer games, and time is real limited with them. I think all kids need more outside doing imaginative games and things more.