Born before 1980

[cameo]

This isn't really a question but.......
Check this out,
http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_ id=23705
I think it makes a very valid point.
What do you think? (look, there is a question after all!)

[cazzz1975]

It sooo does!, we all turned out alright in the end!, however I will say despite growing up in a less careful environment, how is it that we have all gone overboard with the cotton wool parenting??

(the people born before 1980 being this generations parents?)

[cameo]

I know what you mean.
I do try to not wrap them in cotton wool, though society seems to frown on that, as if I'm a bad parent.

I wonder what the kids of today, who have so much and are so 'over-protected', will be like as the parents of the future!!!

[warpig3]

cameo Intresting topic. Yes all those things were true of my childhood, well apart from eating worms, I drew the line at that! The thing with todays modern tech toys for kids is that their origins were based and designed by people who were children in those eras. I wonder if in part with the advent of labour saving devices does this give people more time to think about stuff, for example, going out after breakfast and only coming home when you were hungry. Mums didn't have time to be overly concerned about where we where, they were too busy steeping terry nappies and puting them through the mangle. Also how much of this 'cotton wool' protection is initiated by the media and over consciencous do-gooders?

[warpig3]

Oh and manufacturers too.

[Pippa68]

I totally agree with you warpig..

One thing I will say is that as a youngster I was raised in a 'community'. Everyone worked locally, mums were at home and everyone looked out for each other. Very much due to industry dying and people having to work further away, our communities seem to be dying. Everyone seems so much more 'insular' nowadays and even on a housing estate (either council or private) everyone keeps themselves to themselves.

I didn't realise how good I had it until I had kids!

[warpig3]

Forgot about that pippa, yes you knew everyone in your street, you knew their mums and dads who you called Mr and Mrs Whatever or Uncle and Aunt if they were really friendly with your parents! You were in and out of each others houses and yes everyone looked out for each other. I have been in this house 3 months and don't know any of my neighbours (my fault totally). Actually it is very sad when you think back. When I go home to my mums she talks about when we were kids and to be honest they were the happiest days of my life, sure we had no money but that was irrelevant, we were happy, fed and loved. Cr@p, feel like crying now!

[warpig3]

And as for hi-tech toys, what about two empty soup can with string tied through them and using them as 'stilts'!

[cameo]

warpig and pippa i was saying to Mr cameo the other day that there isn't the sense of community that there used to be.
We're very lucky and live in a street where the neighbours help each other out and we get together socially. My teenage daughter has often said that her friends find it really weird that we do this. Most don't even speak to their neighbours.
If either of my children needed any help or advice, or just someone to 'sound off' to, they know that they can call on quite a few familys in our street, where they would be very welcome. i know that they would be safe and given good advice, but i also know that if it was anything major the neighbour would inform me, or at least tell my kids to tell me.
Community Spirit - people looking out for each other.

[warpig3]

cameo you are extremely lucky to be in that scenario, hold on to it and enjoy it!

[bigmamma]

hi there cameo , cazzz , pippa , :-) x
Morning warpig sweetie , I am crying reading your posts , going back to childhood memories . :-) xx

[warpig3]

Good morning bigmamma, I know its kinda sad isn't it? In part I feel sorry for the kids today who missed out on this but I guess if you told them how it was they would look at you like you were mad! Sign of the times I guess!

[cameo]

warpig, that is so right. When I tell my kids what sort of things we did and how life was they just look at me like i'm the saddest person ever!!!

[4getmenot]

Mmmmmmmm worms

[warpig3]

You salivating now 4get?

[bigmamma]

lol , I also drew the line at eating worms , I left that to my brothers . I did make mud pies and have mud and flower tea parties , stretch a sheet over the fence to make a tent and sit making daisy chains ......is that sad and mad . :-)

[RATTER15]

The kids of today really don't know what its like to live and play!!

The excuse for young yobs these days is there is nothing for them to do!! I think the trouble is, they have forgotten how to play!! if they haven't got a computer a play station, Xbox, ipod etc they are hard up and life isn't worth living!! So they drink alcohol take drugs smash up a bus shelter, etc.

That's modern society for you!!! and the thing that is really disturbing is, it is still getting worse!!!!

[4getmenot]

yep :-) but they had to have bits of dirt on them that was best bit

[warpig3]

Are you sure it was dirt??????

[4getmenot]

yer you could tell difference between dirt and poo in those days as poo was white :-)

[warpig3]

PMSL 4get, completely forgot about that!!!!! What the heck was that all about? Think I will post it in Animals and Nature!