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I received this from my sister and just had to share it with everyone. I'm a child of the 60's and got quite a kick out of this. Enjoy the read! Warmest hugs, :hug: Aleta
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE
1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's !!
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they
carried us.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get
tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were 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 children, we would ride in cars with no 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 soda pop with sugar
in it, 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
99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell
phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet 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 yelled for 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!
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.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we 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.
Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, doesn't it?!
bears by beesley TMAMEN Aleta! Wow, brought a tear to my eye because it is so true. We did all of those things exactly as you said. I was born in 56 and my Mom and Dad never locked the doors to their house even when on vacation for 1 or 2 weeks. Go figure?
Many Hugs and thank you
Louise
Kiprie Bears
:clap: :clap: :clap:
Matilda Huggington-beareAleta, my goodness I laughed heartedly to the bits that seemed to refer directly to myself and friends.
Thank your sister for me. 
Matilda 
DoodlebearsWow! How did we survive Aleta. I remember going off miles from home with my sister. We would have great fun playing along side the canal and even used to swim in it during the warm months. Our friends and neighbours would just push open the door and walk in, just like Louise said the doors were never locked. The world is a much sadder place now and children don't have what I see to be a proper childhood exploring the world around them. For one it is not safe anymore, also as you wrote there are too many Playstations etc that keep the young ones inside. Oh, for times gone by. The kids now would complain at first but I'm sure a good month or two in the 50s would do them a world of good. They could learn to play and enjoy exploring with their friends.
Hugs Jane. 
Baird'sBears:clap: Thanks, Aleta--all true.
I used to play in construction sites! If I thought I could get away with it, I'd still play in construction sites.
Eileen
MerBear OriginalsHow true. I was born in the 40's and did the majority of those things - except eating worms...yuck. We brought our own 4 kids up in the country and we still don't lock our doors (actually, we can't find the keys anymore). I quietly wonder at parents these days who are so concerned that every minute of their child's life must be 'managed'. Kids don't know how to amuse themselves anymore unfortunately.
Marion
Newcastle, OntarioHow wonderful, Aleta - please give you sister my thanks for the memories and yes indeed. we did all survive! I was born In Dec/49 and when I actually think about all the fun stuff we played at, I feel sorry for kids today! Being a child alll those years ago was magical and we all had brilliant imaginations. We could pass a whole afternoon, just throwing an indian rubber ball against the side of the house with all the rhyming games we knew. I can't remember the last time I saw children skipping outside and all the games with rubber balls, have disappeared. Children today don't know how to amuse themselves at all, it seems. Our kids grew up in an amazing small town up north and had a similar childhood - they always had things to do outside. I'm so glad my daughter is determined our grandson will be an "outdoor" kid too and not a TV-aholic.
I sent you a PM a few days ago, Aleta, and I also sent you a picture in your regular email. I hadn't heard back and I was wondering if you received them? Take care and hope you're back on your feet!
Hugs,
Brenda
Past Time BearsGreat stuff . . . I remember it all (except for eating worms). I was born in 1941. But would we truly go backwards? Yes, the simplicity, the lack of crime, the honesty, the sense of safety, the invigoration of playing outdoors is all very enticing and I would go back for that. But we've made such strong progress in the management and cure for all sorts of diseases, have made great strides in opportunities for women and minorities, and technology has made our lives so much easier/better (that may be a two-edged sword, however) that I'm not sure I want to give that up. But then . . . I am squashing the good feelings that come from remembering "the good ol' days" and I apologize - getting waaaaaaay too serious for this thread. I certainly did enjoy reading about my youthful days and actually do wish life was more simple sometimes. Thanks much for sharing, Aleta!
Posts: 8,574Wonderful!!!
and I do occassionally run through the house with scissors......usually chasing down a golly or two......
dilu
Lemmon BearsThis was so true. I grew up in a small town and it really couldn't have been a better place to grow up.
Joan
Those were the days my friend..... we thought they'd never end......
Weren't they wonderful times, going out into the Country on our pushbikes and taking our picnic lunch and
building tree houses and just having a simply fun time. All so true and we, of that age bracket can relate to this list!
Life was good back then and it is sad that the children of today sometimes do not get to enjoy the simple pleasures
that we used to know.
In the playground on Waiheke Island, they took away the big slide the other day and replaced with a much smaller one as a child had broken their arm. Surely sometimes accidents do happen but don't kids just need to be more careful and learn.
Thanks Aleta, for sharing with us.
Bear hugs
Carolyn
