I was having a discussion with my beautiful wife the other night about what we used to do as kids, what we were allowed to do and not allowed to do, how much free reign did we have, and when was the rope pulled in. Would love to hear everyone elses thoughts on what they were able to do, when were you allowed to go out by yourself, when were you allowed to stay home by yourself etc.
Things were far different in our time growing up, things have changed so very much. When I think of what I would let my kids do now, and if things keep going the way they are, what will they be able to do in the future, and it worries me, our kids, not just mine, everybody's kids, are going to be faced with far less opportunity than we had as kids, simply because of the day and age we live in, and the direction that we are headed in the future.
I was allowed to stay home by myself for the first time when I was 12.
I was allowed out with my friends after school etc for as long as I can remember and I was allowed to jump on my bike and head there myself.
Growing up in Australia in my time meant much of this.
"hide and seek" - As young as 8, maybe even younger, if we travelled to the park for the day, we could safely play a game of hide and seek in the park without a 2nd thought, will our kids be able to do so? Not with the freedom we enjoyed. Geez, if our parents had friends over that had kids, we could play hide and seek or spotlight outside for as long as we wanted!!
"The corner milk bar" - Remember getting on your bike and riding to the shops with your mates?? How much of that will our kids be able to do this, with risks of dark, evil hiding around every corner, us as parents will fear our kids getting snatched or having their bikes stolen. We were doing this stuff at 10.
"Street Cricket" in front of the garbage bin and inviting everyone on your street to join in - Ok, so this will hopefully go on forever, if it's in front of your house, generally its pretty safe.
"Brittish Bulldog" - Cant play games like this anymore, too dangerous according to our schools, we grew up and developed resiliance and a slice of toughness from these games, never did any major harm. A few fights, but nothing that would stop us from doing it again the next day.
"Kiss Chasey" - Geez, you would be reported for harrassment if you tried this in the schoolyard these days.
"Kick to Kick" - Another that will hopefully never die, but who knows, one slip on someone's front lawn and someone could end up sued.
I found the following and thought, WOW, how much of these great experiences are my kids going to be able to enjoy... It is possibly the best list I have ever seen.
Remember all the fun stuff you did on the weekend, or even after school, rather than sitting in front of a computer!!!
slip'n'slide, the trampoline with water on it, stepping in puddles, Mud pies and building dams in the gutter. The smell of the sun and fresh cut grass. 'Big bubbles no troubles' with Hubba Bubba bubble gum. A choc-top.Mr Whippy cone on a warm summer night after you've chased him round the block. 20 cents worth of mixed lollies lasted a week and pretending to smoke "fags" (the lollies) was really cool!..
A dollars' worth of chips from the corner take-away fed two people (AND the sauce was free!!).
Being upset when you botched putting on the temporary tattoo from the bubblegum packet, but still wearing it proudly. Watching Saturday morning cartoons: 'The Smurfs', 'AstroBoy', 'He-Man', 'Captain Caveman', 'Archie', 'Jem' (truly outrageous!!), 'The
Wizard of Oz', 'Banana Man'and 'Heeeey heeeeey heeeeeeey it's faaaaaaat Albert'.
Or staying up late and sneaking a look at the "AO" movie on the second telly.
When around the corner seemed a long way, and going into town seemed like going somewhere. Where running away meant you did laps of the block because you weren't allowed to cross the road??
A million mozzie bites, wasp and bee stings. Sticky fingers, cops and robbers, cowboys and Indians, riding bikes and catching yabbies.
Marco polo in the neighbours' pool, drawing all over the road and driveway with chalk. Climbing trees and building cubbies out of every sheet your mum had in the cupboard.
Walking to school, no matter what the weather. Running till you were out of breath.
Laughing so hard that your stomach hurt. Pitching the tent in the back/front yard. Jumping on the bed. Ghosts stories with the next Door neighbours. Pillowfights, spinning round, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for the giggles.The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team (Can't happen now, taught you to deal with disappointment, now everything has to be fair). Water balloons were the ultimate weapon. Cricket cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle. Eating raw jelly, sucking on a Funny Face, Paddle Pop or red Icy Pole. Remember when there were only two types of sneakers - girls and boys.
Dunlop volleys with the green 'n' gold or blue and the only time you wore them at school was for "sports day." You knew everyone in your street - and so did your parents! It wasn't odd to have two or three "best friends" You didn't sleep a wink on Christmas eve and pretended to sleep for the tooth fairy. When 50c was decent pocket money. When you'd reach into a muddy gutter for 10c. When nearly everyone's mum was there when the kids got home from school. It was magic when dad would
"remove" his thumb. When it was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at the local Chinese restaurant with your family.
When any parent could discipline any kid, or feed her or use him to carry groceries and nobody, not even the kid, thought a thing of it. When being sent to the principal's office was nothing compared to the fate that awaited a misbehaving student at home.
Basically, we were in fear for our lives, but it wasn't because of drive-by shootings, drugs, gangs, etc. Our parents and grandparents were a much bigger threat!
Some of us are still afraid of them!!!
Remember when decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-MO" or dib dib's-scissors, paper, rock.
Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in Monopoly.
Terrorism was when the older kids were at the end of your street with pea-shooters waiting to ambush you.
The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was boy/girl germs, and the worst thing in your day was having to sit next to one.
Where bluelight disco's were the equivalent to a Rave, and asking a girl out meant writing a 'polite' note getting them to tick 'yes' or 'no'.
When there was always that one 'HOT' guy/girl.
Having a weapon in school meant being caught with a slingshot. Your biggest danger at school was accidentally walking through the middle of a heated game of
"brandies".
Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better.
Taking drugs meant scoffing orange-flavoured chewable vitamin C's, or swallowing half a Panadol. Ice cream was considered a basic food group.
Going to the beach and catching a wave was a dream come true. Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dare".
Older siblings were the worst tormentors, but also the fiercest protectors.
I fear for the future of our kids and what they can experience, but I will be doing everything I can to make sure that my children will have the chance to experience as much as they can in growing up.
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