For a father who raised me with the help of a Grandmother and, eventually, a step mother.... I love you all...
A Reflection on Childhood
You can pick up any newspaper, read any online article, or peruse through your local bookstore to find “expert” information about how to raise children, including all the things to avoid. (Though I was always told children didn’t come with a manual!) When did we become such an infantile, spoiled and self entitled society? I fear that the generations, beginning with the baby boomers, have consistently expected more and more without the effort of work, and regrettably, have instilled this mentality into the future generations whereas this mentality has only multiplied. Regrettably, this is a lump sum of generics and I do not feel that everyone falls into this category, only the vast majority. It is in this ideal that I reflect on my childhood and all that I “survived”; wishing for a shift in the state of people today.
- I slept in a crib, which converted to a bed, which had drop sides, a flat mattress, sliding drawers, and shelf for knick-knacks – I made it.
- I lived on a second floor apartment with a metal balcony – I made it.
- There were guns in my house (we knew better) – I made it.
- I grew up in a two bedroom apartment with one TV, family dinners, and no Xbox – I made it.
- I was expected to clean my plate of exactly what was cooked for everyone for dinner, whether I liked it or not – I made it.
- I didn’t have a computer – I made it (and even handwrote my first high school papers)
- I didn’t have a cell phone or texting, there was one home phone and it was in the kitchen; Hell of a way to keep us honest – I made it.
- I didn’t get an allowance and I was still required to do chores (no bribery) – I made it.
- I was expected to behave in public at all times without the aid of electronic devices, whether I was at dinner, the flea market, the hospital, on a plane, wherever – I made it.
- I drank straight from the hose (and the spigot outside of the building) and not one “specially formulated” for drinking from – I made it.
- I was expected to respect all adults, if I talked back to any of them there would be hell to pay – I made it.
- I stayed outside with friends until a whistle from up the street called us in for dinner (and you best make in there in the time it took you to get there at a dead sprint) – I made it.
- I used my imagination; made indoor railroads in the basement with 2x4’s and rode my bike over them, created obstacle courses in the backyard, played Barbies, built forts, and the list goes on – I made it.
- I ate glue, glitter, crayon shavings, and dirt – I made it.
- I had bottles, cups, bowls, and utensils that weren’t BPA free – I made it.
- I rode in the back of a pickup truck, in the winter, with a Christmas tree – I made it.
- I had 3 cookies and a cup of milk as an afterschool snack every day, no more, no less – I made it.
- I ate basic cereal for breakfast, sugary ones were only a treat every few months and there were no such things as pop tarts or pizza for breakfast– I made it.
- I went shopping with my family, we knew better than to beg for junk food, act up in the store, run down aisles, or cause commotion in general – I made it.
- I rarely went out to eat, but when we did I was expected to behave, otherwise I would have been removed from the restaurant – I made it.
- I did my homework and asked when I need help; I didn’t blame my teachers, baseball practice, friends, the dog, or parents for not having it – I made it.
- I was encouraged to be active in school (drama, chorus, musical theatre) and come before school or stay after school to work with my teachers if I was struggling with something – I made it.
- I was expected to do well in school, there was no excuse because you can work through anything (my brother was dyslexic and still made it) – I made it.
- I paid for my actions with consequences inside and outside of school – I made it.
- My clothes came from where we could afford them – I made it.
- I got a job at 16 for minimum wage and didn’t complain about it, if I needed gas, I paid for it – I made it.
- If my behavior was severe enough, I was smacked (never beaten) – I made it and learned a lesson.
It often scares me to see many of the youth of today and their parents, the relationship dynamic has changed. I hope for a shift in the way this society is presently raising children or we are in for a surprise as we continue to fall in the rankings of etiquette, education, and morals. I am happy to say that I was raised in a way that taught me to be a well rounded, educated, and respectful adult – attributes that are often missing in children today. So, here’s to saying “screw the experts” and going back to what works; a generation of depression era parents who only knew what they had and not the things they couldn’t get, a generation who were parents first, and a generation whose family name meant more than the label on their clothing
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