Came Home Today To a Bad Surprise :(

My mom never watched us . . . it was "It's eight in the morning . . . . what are you still doing inside????" Then out we were sent with clear instructions to be home before the street lights came on. And we were expected to return the second she called us so we couldn't stray too far.

Now children have to be "entertained" constantly with every minute seemingly planned for them with one activity or another. How do children learn to be self-reliant now? And children seem to be cushioned from every disappointment - how do they learn resiliance if they have never had to over come hardship or failure?

Someone on radio just talked about that subject, Seandor, and how little the pop stars of today can appreciate how we regular folks have had to work for a living.

I have students, god bless 'em, who have never struggled for anything. It would be great if I could wave a magic wand and ensure that they never have to. But life is seldom so idyllic. It is much better to learn how to struggle and be successful when you are a child than to have your first experience when you have small children to care for and mortgages to pay, etc. My students are soooo eager to be middle-aged and middle-class. The things they consider necessities, I consider luxuries (cell phones, cars, ipods, computers, stereos, tvs, ski-passes, etc.)

I left home when I was sixteen and worked my way through high school as a waitress working until 2 am each night. I considered my life terrific since I was master of my own home - even though it was a one-room furnished suite with a hot-plate and a shared bathroom. My source of electronic entertainment? An old red plastic radio that only had AM frequency. I didn't think this was a hardship . . . this was grand! I could eat jello instant butterscotch pudding anytime I wanted :-)

My mom rarely knew where we were or what we were up to. We certainly knew we were loved and knew what responsibility and consequences were. It's what the parents teach and instill in the kids that matters, not how much time they're babysat.

Good thing I only have cats - I'd mess up children royally!

I prefer cats so far.

Growing up I never knew if I was reach or poor. My parents never talked about money, if I wanted something I was simply told"NO" if I asked why it was"because I said so" and this was the end. For Christmas I only wanted books, when younger I got the same little two room doll house my mother freshly decorated and one or two new items.
We lived in two rooms, a bedroom for four of us including my sister and a kitchen no hot water nor heat but a small black coke stove, I still remember putting two fingers on the window to melt the ice so I could see out.

The war as I grew older made me realize how awful life can be, it was not worth a nickle, rationing was 900 calories a day besides being bombed where people lost the little they had or death itself.

Every so often when i shop for food, some one will complain to me how they dislike going to the market and how expensive all of it is, this may be true, I usually say "how would you like it if the store is empty"? To this day I am very happy to choose what I can afford and most of all that it is there, All the money in the world will not help if there is no food to sell, I remember my mothers tears not being able to give us food.

I'm glad you made it through the bad times and can be thankful for packed stores and food on the table. It's the things we take for granted that truly mean so much.

Yes - great thoughts, Maria. Thanks for sharing with us.

Victor, you are welcome

Maria you hit it right on the head. Why do 7 year olds need cell phones? Kids learn from mistakes, failure and by trying over and over again. How will they learn to think for themselves and have an imagination if their lives are so programed and shielded. Life is messy and never a smooth ride even if you have a ton of money and can get anything you need or want. Helping our children learn how to deal with all kinds of people and situations, and to think for themselves is the best gift parents can give imho. That old thing "Because I said so" made me laugh. My oldest son is just realizing the joys of more than one child and complained to his dad the other day that the vow that he had made to himself never to say this to his children was already broken. LOL

All very true. I broke that vow during childbirth.

Your birth?

Ha ha ha Seandor!