Tribute to Kids Raised in the 60's and 70's

[GenuineRisk]

I always love these "We grew up without (fill in safety precaution) and we're here today!" True. Because those who did die from lack of car seat/helmet/whatever ARE DEAD AND NOT HERE TODAY TO POST ON THE INTERTOOBS ABOUT IT.

That said, I do feel truly sorry that my son will never know the joy of road trips in the way back of a station wagon, as I did. Just as I'm sure my uncle felt bad when I was little that I would never know the joy of being sent down to the corner store as a six-year-old to buy smokes for my old man, as he did.

On the bright side, there are plenty of places where one can still live like a child in the 1970s. The parents of one of my son's good friends are from Uruguay, and they told me last time they visited, the local playground featured a slide that ended in a dirt pit with a very sharp rock protruding straight up to tear up the kids' legs as they landed. Heh.

[dellinger63]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I always love these "We grew up without (fill in safety precaution) and we're here today!" True. Because those who did die from lack of car seat/helmet/whatever ARE DEAD AND NOT HERE TODAY TO POST ON THE INTERTOOBS ABOUT IT.

That said, I do feel truly sorry that my son will never know the joy of road trips in the way back of a station wagon, as I did. Just as I'm sure my uncle felt bad when I was little that I would never know the joy of being sent down to the corner store as a six-year-old to buy smokes for my old man, as he did.

On the bright side, there are plenty of places where one can still live like a child in the 1970s. The parents of one of my son's good friends are from Uruguay, and they told me last time they visited, the local playground featured a slide that ended in a dirt pit with a very sharp rock protruding straight up to tear up the kids' legs as they landed. Heh.

It's sad though that your son and his friends will grow up playing inside instead of outside and when they do go to play outside will be accompanied and supervised by a parent or a paid supervisor. That the majority of his friends will be obese because of inactivity.

That instead of having a fist fight to settle disagreements they will taunt and bully each other on social media and the miniscule number of kids who can't take it will commit suicide which will be represented by social media as an epidemic.

That there will be no tryouts for Little League, everyone will make the team, play equal time, receive a trophy all for just showing up good or bad enabling your son and his friends to put off learning how to deal with failure.

That almost everyone will be pushed through school and instead of being failed and set back a grade will be promoted eventually given a diploma without basic skills or falling so far behind they drop out again escaping the inevitable task of dealing with failure.

Looking back it seems going to the store for smokes for your dad sounds pretty good compared to todays do's and don'ts .

[jms62]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

I always love these "We grew up without (fill in safety precaution) and we're here today!" True. Because those who did die from lack of car seat/helmet/whatever ARE DEAD AND NOT HERE TODAY TO POST ON THE INTERTOOBS ABOUT IT.

That said, I do feel truly sorry that my son will never know the joy of road trips in the way back of a station wagon, as I did. Just as I'm sure my uncle felt bad when I was little that I would never know the joy of being sent down to the corner store as a six-year-old to buy smokes for my old man, as he did.

On the bright side, there are plenty of places where one can still live like a child in the 1970s. The parents of one of my son's good friends are from Uruguay, and they told me last time they visited, the local playground featured a slide that ended in a dirt pit with a very sharp rock protruding straight up to tear up the kids' legs as they landed. Heh.

How about metal sliding boards that were molten hot in the summer with jagged metal waiting for you on the bottom of the slide.

[knickslions2]

Originally Posted by jms62

How about metal sliding boards that were molten hot in the summer with jagged metal waiting for you on the bottom of the slide.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by jms62

How about metal sliding boards that were molten hot in the summer with jagged metal waiting for you on the bottom of the slide.

ah, yes...so fun to slide-or attempt to slide-down those. there was always the dreaded screeching halt where skin just wouldn't slide easily. youch!

my kids had pine cone battles. hubby said should they be throwing those? i said it beat the dirt clods we used to throw at each other. the bigger the better.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Danzig

ah, yes...so fun to slide-or attempt to slide-down those. there was always the dreaded screeching halt where skin just wouldn't slide easily. youch!

my kids had pine cone battles. hubby said should they be throwing those? i said it beat the dirt clods we used to throw at each other. the bigger the better.

My brother had a friend that threw a ski pole at him when he was age 5 or so. Hit him in the face. A few millimeters more in one direction and he'd have lost his eye. And my dad still has a scar on his chest from when his brother threw a jar full of cold water at him and it smashed open on impact. Brotherly love, my ass.

This thread makes me remember this kids' book I found at my grandparents', called Follow My Leader. It had belonged to my dad or one of my uncles or aunt, so it had to have come out in the 1950's at the latest. Heartwarming story of a boy who lost his eyesight when playing with a firecracker and then got a seeing-eye dog. I found the book thoroughly traumatizing.