I'm feeling really old right now
I think there are too many generalities floating in this discussion. Each persons experiences are unique, as were the locations they grew up in.
I grew up in a world where Mom did not work. She was a full time Mom which is probably the most important job of all. Dad's income was more than
adequate to pay for everything. Even low income workers could afford to buy a small home. Divorce was very rare. It just did not happen. Ironically
most couples were very happy with the arrangement.
It is a myth and anyone my age knows this, that the advent of both Parents working was a good thing. Some Mom's worked but within the local community
and if something came up with the kids they simply went to Mom or Dad's work place and got one of their Parents with the blessings of the employer.
We were a true community.
There were no Day Care Centers where some minimum wage angry person raised your children for you. You stayed with a relative, a close neighbor and the
neighborhood Mom's helped each other. Your neighborhood was an extended family. Every Mom and Dad in the neighborhood had Parental authority and if
somebody's Parent told you to do something it was the same as a command from your Parents.
It was perfectly safe to let us play and run around the neighborhood. My Parents always knew where I was 24/7 and one of them was always available if
I needed them. Every one knew each other, socialized together and talked often.
Our backyards were actually one giant backyard. No fences. If we wandered into a neighbors yard no problem. Often the Lady of the House would come out
with a smile and some home baked cookies and lemonade. We had this huge playground where we were safe and under the watchful eye of somebody's Parent
at all times.
No drugs. No drunks. No homeless because your family took care of one another. We just had that worthless cousin who never seemed to have a job but
was lot's of fun to play catch with. He would earn his way by doing chores like painting fences or helping in our gardens and orchards. (When I say
yard, most had a half or full acre because we all grew a lot of our own food)
We went to school in groups in the mornings. You had to live more than three miles from the school to ride a bus; otherwise you walked along with all
the kids in your school in the morning.
Our teachers were on a first name basis with our Parents. We could not get away with anything. If you did not show up, your Parents got an immediate
phone call. If you messed up your Parents got a call. If you got in trouble at night and Officer (who you also knew) drove you home, woke up your
Parents and told them what you were up too.
We did not think our Parents were harsh or unfair. We loved them because we knew they cared enough to watch over us and were always there for us. We
knew that we were their first priority.
We all knew at 5 pm we HAD to be home. We ate dinner all together and discussed the day. Then our Parents spent time with us. We knew we were loved
and cared for. We knew our Dad would never leave and we would have the same Parents for our whole lives and they were happy!!! Imagine that.
Now I've lived on the same middle to upper middle class dead end street for about 6 years I think. Nice quiet neighborhood and there has never been
anything bad happen. No drunks or drugs. Lots of children. There is never a child outside, ever unless they are going straight to the car to go
somewhere. I've never seen a single one of the teenagers mow a lawn, rake a leaf or do anything outside. The house across the street has four
children. They have playground stuff in their yard. In six years not once have I seen a child playing outside. Six years and I don't know a single
persons name. I used to smile and wave all the time but they just glare at me.
Sometimes I look around and think WHAT IN THE HELL HAPPENED!
You young people are being ripped off. Parents who don't even attempt to stay together and raise you. Dumped off in Day Care Centers, nobody home
after work and a game console to be your babysitter. Teachers in school who don't give a damn because they only teach because they are not good
enough to get a real job. Teachers who are angry who brainwash you by teaching you their personal politics instead of the facts you need to earn a
good living and be happy.
That house across the street from me? Dad is only home there after 7pm. Mom I see there after 6 but she always leaves alone again and comes back after
their kids are in bed or should be. They see their Parents maybe a couple of hours a day in total. Weekends both Parents head out. They never leave
together and they never have a kid with them. The kids sit there all day, inside with no Parent around. Sunday they go to church and pretend to be a
family and then both Parents take off, each going there own way and leave the kids alone again until they come back late at night.
What exactly about that now average middle class home is better than my childhood? God I miss the sound of children playing in the morning when I wake
up. All I hear now is the cars as their Parents take off to play while their children sit locked inside their homes on their game consoles.
What next? A community child dump where you leave your children in the morning and then pick them up to go to bed?