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 i n 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 o ur 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 i t would happen, we did not poke 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!

Amen to that!!! I agree the world has gotten absurd with all the technological crap. Not to mention, lawsuits, social services, child molestors, and the myriad of stuff that goes with all this. I guess they thought blocking controls and content warnings would help...hehe. I must say I do kind of wish for the good ole' days sometimes. I think everything in the world is too fast now a days...or it may be I am just getting too slow to keep up hehe.

Yeah, everyone lives in a bubble now *rolls eyes*

Obviously even though we enjoyed being raised this way, you're forgetting...we are the ones that have made these laws and these changes and adapted society in this horrific way that makes it where it's no longer safe for our children to enjoy what we could...Or no longer possible for us to allow them to. Things like this post sadden me...People blame kids today, my generation, the one before us...but hey...THEY RAISED US!...On top of that...THEY not only changed the rules...they made a whole new game

Calell I would have to agree with you even tho I'm of that other generation. we tried and continue to try to make life easier and more enjoyable for our children and many times blame them for laziness. Our parents worked normal nine to five jobs and were role models and "parents" whereas many of us work weird hours and multiple jobs to stay in this rat race and who suffers? ours was a much simpler childhood but the world changes and so do the people in it no one to blame but ourselves!

Lets stick warning signs... (This might be dangerous - You cant do that) All over the place so the children cant do anything on their own anymore without a parent watching over them 24/7

Its gone too far Im from 81 myself.. But ive spent all my life "playing" outside - climbing trees.. doing other things which is considered dangerous.. All was good
Kids are over protected these days.. I will try not to over protect my children.. when i get them.. which should be soon!