21stamps
Well-Known Member
I’m so glad that I’m a “young” GenXer I forget the specific term we’re called “Oregon Trail Generation” I think.. we’re some of the last ones to experience that kind of childhood. I would never trade my evening of Kick the Can, or parents’ rule of “come home when the street lights come on”, riding my bike around the neighborhood, to the candy store, and showing up at friend’s houses without our parents scheduling a play date.. Kids today have awesome technology, indoor play places, etc...but I definitely wouldn’t trade my childhood for it.I'm glad I was born when I was. I got to be a kid. No stress or worries, just play with my friends. Use my red wagon like it was a car and made roads that I would drive across country in. Play baseball with my friends in the field next door. Float around in the little wading pool my parents bought, watch the Mickey Mouse Club with my early love, Annette singing for me and then watching Superman save the world while munching on a fluffernutter. Of course, before that I would sit at the table and use my coloring book while listening to the Lone Ranger and the Green Hornet on the radio. Go outside and with a couple of wooden planks and a small sawhorse create my own store complete with cash register. In other words I had a childhood not an adult competition to have the smartest child ever. Will today's kids end up more successful financially then I ever did? Chances are pretty good that they will. It's to bad they missed out on all the joys of being a kid for awhile before being thrust into competition and pressure to learn everything.
I have no way of knowing which was the best way to go and that will probably not show up until after I am taking that dirt nap, but, I still am glad that I got to be that kid. I loved the 50's. They were, in spite of being the cold war time, very fun for me.
I think I’m getting old.. because I share the same sentiments as you do, it makes me a bit sad for the current generation of kids.