Good ol days. Can you relate?

[TexasLawman]

I am the oldest of 5..

Eating out at a restaurant was a huge deal that only happened for very special occasions . We didn’t have fast food on every corner.

Fast food was a cheese or pb&j sandwich to take outside in the yard. Eating ice cream was a treat on a hot day.

You took your school clothes off as soon as you got home and put on your play clothes. We had to do our homework before being allowed outside to play. We ate dinner at the table. We went to school every day and some rode a bus with 3 to a seat. Our phone hung on the wall in the kitchen and had a cord- there was no private conversation or cell phones! Most TVs didn’t have remotes, we had to actually get up to change the channel. And had about 10 channels.

We played Mother May I, Hopscotch, Cowboys and Indians, Cops and Robbers, 1,2,3 Not It, Red Light Green Light, Red Rover, Hide & Seek, Truth or Dare, Tag, Baseball, Kick Ball, Dodge Ball, and climbed trees or big dirt hills (king of the mountain)

We played baseball, football or rode bikes every summer and swam in the river or the lake . No one had their own pool!

Staying in the house was a punishment (except to play with LEGO) and the only thing we knew about "bored"--- "You better find something to do before I find it for you!"

We ate what mom made for dinner or we ate nothing at all. There was no bottled water; we drank from the tap or the water hose (warm).

We watched cartoons on Saturday mornings, and got to eat cereal. Then rode our bikes for hours and ran around in the woods.

We weren't AFRAID OF ANYTHING. If someone had a fight, that's what it was and we were friends again a week later, if not SOONER. We played till dark, sunset was our curfew.

School was mandatory and teachers were people who you could TRUST and respect.

We watched our MOUTHS around our elders because ALL of our Aunts, Uncles, Grandpas and Grandmas AND our Parents best friends were also our PARENTS (they COULD & WOULD WHOOP Y'ALL!,) and you didn't want them telling your PARENTS if you misbehaved.

These were the good ole days. Kids today will never know how it feels to be a real kid. I loved my childhood...!!!

Kids these days will never understand how we grew up!!!

⚜ Good Times

[carolek572 CommunityAmbassador]

Ah, your post reminds me of summer time when I was allowed to sleep outside, in my 2 person tent, that I pitched in my back yard. The location of the tent was determined by the length of the extension cord! What? Because I would bring out the 10 inch Sony black and white tv so I could watch fuzzy Monty Python. Reception was lousy but who cared. I was living the 'life of Riley', going to sleep anytime! But I didn't account for the sun coming up at 5 am, the cats 'marking' their territory on ALL sides of the tent, or the inflatable 'mattress' having a slow leak! But these things would have never prevented me from doing it ~ ever! Thanks for the memories and Keep Smiling, my friend

[kdali in reply to carolek572]

Love your story!! 🥰

[2littletime]

Ahhn...thanks for the memories. I am the youngest of 5 & I remember the older ones watching out for the younger ones. We even liked each other! I have 2 children &I used to have to remind them that "they're all there is". They are grown now with their own families & rarely see each other. (So sad) I still talk to my sisters every day. (on the phone..I'm in California & they are in Wisconsin) but they are still my best friends. We really did grow up in the best time ever! Thanks again for reminding me.😀

[falalalala]

Sure, I can relate.

Then I think of my grandfather walking 152 miles to school every morning, uphill both ways in the snow with one shoe...and that shoe had a hole in it.

Then I think, what an ingrate he was, complaining about shoe ventilation🤣

[TexasLawman in reply to falalalala]

LOLOLOL

[Peruzzot in reply to falalalala]

My dad used to tack on that he carried his sister through the snow on his back, and he didn't have any shoes. His sister is 12 years older than he is. So if anyone was carrying anyone on their backs it was probably his sister carrying him.🤣😂🤣😂

[falalalala in reply to Peruzzot]

🤣😂🤣🤣😂🤣

[TexasLawman in reply to Peruzzot]

LOLOLOL

[Royjr]

I agree 100% and I will add that when we went to school writing and spelling was graded. Can anyone say CURSIVE.

[Royjr in reply to Royjr]

Can anyone remember in school the alphabet being in cursive, from A to Z.

[Texandyroe in reply to Royjr]

I remember.

[TexasLawman in reply to Royjr]

I made sure that my boy’s school taught phonics and cursive writing.

[jimeka]

I loved my child hood. I come from a long line of farmers so we were always outside. What you say brings back some good memories. You certainly know how to make us all smile and laugh, thank you 😊

[Kenu]

Right on Texaslawman. That’s how I grew up also. Fun times back then 👍🙏😉😊 Ken 🐾🐾

[agapepilgrim]

Dairy Queen cones were 5 cents!

[Royjr in reply to agapepilgrim]

It’s almost impossible to find a Dairy Queen here in Maryland but I remember those days.

[WildInMontana]

I think you and I grew up together!

[rjoneslaw]

U GOT THAT RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

U know there was a remote it was u. ur parents told u to go change the channel. sometimes u had to hold the antenna or put foil on it. TV went off at a certain time.

U were in bed at a certain time.

Don't 4get the punishments. There wasn't anything called time out it was called go get me the belt and if that wasn't available the hand would do plus ur grounded til u were 21. Talking back, flipping off at the mouth, think again it's ur funeral pick out a nice outfit.

[Peruzzot in reply to rjoneslaw]

On TV we saw one show that featured this new invention...a dish washer😲😲😲 OMG!!!A machine that washes dishes for you!! "Dad can we get one of those??? We neeeed one of those!!!" My dad's response "What are you talking about? I already have 3 dish washers. Their names are Tammy, Kathy, and Wendy." "Not funny dad." 😝😝😝😂🤣😂🤣😂

[rjoneslaw in reply to Peruzzot]

LUV IT😂🤣😊!!!!!!!!!!

[pamgarner]

i remember well,all of the above,and let me add most family's had 1 car so we walked everywhere!if it was within a mile,get out your walking shoes and we never questioned it,or your bike. we used our imagination to entertain our selves,lets not forget jacks,marbles and jump ropes,fireflies in the evening and putting them in a jar,great memories of a simpler time

[2littletime in reply to pamgarner]

My mom didn't drive so it was only Dad. If we asked him to take us somewhere that was not very far he would say: "Walk, it's not crowded".

[Peruzzot in reply to pamgarner]

My dad took our car to work. During the non winter months we rode the horses to town to pick up stuff from the general store. Downtown consisted of a general store, a post office, a cow pasture, a Methodist church, and the burned out remenents of a one room school house. That was main street.

[Texandyroe]

Well said! And I can totally relate, except our TV only had 3 channels. 🤪

[TexasLawman in reply to Texandyroe]

Me too. When she said 10, I thought she grew up in luxury.

[4fishylady]

Add to that, most of my toys were make overs or pretend stuff. (Hey, we were the original inventors of "reuse, re purpose, recycle!) We girls made play houses out of whatever we could find from other people's thrown out stuff. I remember making a toy car to roll in the dirt, out of 2 wooden spools from my mother's sewing. In 1st grade I also walked 1 mile, down and up, a big steep hill! Big barking dogs on that walk terrified me, and I am still very wary of them at 76! Our grandchildren are so pampered, no wonder the younger generation is so clueless as to the basic values in life. This may be an opportunity for some of them to learn something, maybe. Or not. They still have their cell phones!

[mrsmike9 in reply to 4fishylady]

I was the youngest of five. Two boys then three girls. I even got my brothers' hand-me-downs and got teased for my "dungarees". I guess I was just ahead of my time!

[leapsnbounds]

I had very similar memories. I also remember saying to myself, when I get older I am going to only have popsicles and play tag. I'm never going to eat dinner. Yes that worked out well for me lol. Have a great weekend.

[BeckyAnn1966]

I was #3 out of four but you described my childhood.

Thank you .

God Bless you and stay safe.

[mrsmike9]

You had a lot more channels than we did? We only had three!! You forgot Kick the Can!!! Loved it!

[TexasLawman in reply to mrsmike9]

I only had 3 too.

[mrsmike9 in reply to TexasLawman]

You'd said 10 channels. I thought, wow! I didn't even know there were 10 channels available! Of course you are a bit younger than me.

[Hidden in reply to mrsmike9]

I have anntenna when most have cable or satellite but get plenty

[stepsforNeeC]

Yes, can we GO BACK to THESE DAYS!!!!! I miss them Be Blessed and safe with your family!

NeeC

[jackiesj]

I just had a birthday and read this...yes....I AM OLD! hahahaha

I think my childhood helped me prepare for this C virus a bit because of what you wrote!stay well!

[RoseySawyer]

Amen. I'm young but I still did half those things and when I got home from school I had to do homework and put play clothes on or I got my a$$ beat. 😁♥️🌹

[Sweetheartonvdayl]

Hi TexasLaman

I gotta"agree you

I miss the "good days" when You can trust people....

I'm ( jaded w/my my life experience's, also)

God bless

Lisa❤

[Hidden]

Good one! I must have missed this post of yours, the other day. Lol.

I had to comment.....

You had 10 tv channels? WOW!

My house had three.....

Life was good....

[Hidden]

Whoops, you already corrected the channel thing....

Should have read through everyone else's comments first.

It's early, more coffee needed

[Hidden]

So articulate I think you could write for a newspaper or something

[TexasLawman in reply to Hidden]

Thanks. I did write a book.

[Hidden in reply to TexasLawman]

Articulation seems to b a strong suit of yours personally I search for words I have come to the conclusion reading and observing help me

[Hidden]

We like to call these m.s. flare ups suck we call them disaster bastards