Did we tell our parents where we were going? No. If we were out playing we were out playing…riding bikes, playing down in the ravines, shooting our bows and arrows at the archery range in our ravines, walking through the woods, wading through the creek down the road, etc. We were pretty responsible though. We took archery in 4-H and were taught how to handle the bows and arrows safely. We never did anything irresponsible when it came to handling the bows.

I honestly can\’t remember if we were allowed to swim in the lake unsupervised or not.

Of course, we didn’t have cell phones or walkie talkies. If something happened while we were away from home, we\’d go to a neighbor\’s house.

Occasionally we did get scraped up or we\’d fall and twist an ankle while running around, but that was part of being a kid.

During nice weather, our parents didn’t want us indoors unless we were doing chores or sick. We could stay inside and read a book if we wanted, and sometimes we did that, but mostly we wanted to be outside.

Yes, we had free roaming rights. We knew how far away we were allowed to go. When I was around 7 years old I walked to school and rode my bike around the neighborhood.

As far as clothes were concerned, we bought most of them from yard sales or the Goodwill. Or my Mom made our clothes.

I found out recently from a co-worker that kids under a certain age can only be so many feet away from their parents. This coworker said his kid was playing down the road at a neighbor\’s house. They were outside in the yard and he could see his kid.

A cop stopped by, and when he found out it was his kid down the road, he was told that he could call child protective services and his child could be taken away. This coworker told the cop he had no idea that there was a law like that. The cop let him off with a warning. I had no idea there was a law like that either.

Did things really get so bad? I don\’t know. But I do know that back in the 60\’s and 70\’s when I was a kid people could be trusted. Parents didn’t worry about their kids being kidnapped…at least not where I lived. Neighbors looked out for each other.

Why weren’t we treated like consumers back then? Well for one thing, most of us didn’t have televisions. There were many years in my childhood that we didn\’t have one. And even when we did have one, we only got 2 or 3 channels, and we were only allowed to watch tv occasionally.

We weren’t bombarded with advertising on radio either…at least I don\’t remember that.

As far as drugs are concerned, I never saw drugs in any of my schools…not even once.

Anyway, it\’s a very interesting topic, Vanja. I have no idea what happened that things changed so drastically. But I\’m glad I don’t have kids.

Did we tell our parents where we were going? No. If we were out playing we were out playing…riding bikes, playing down in the ravines, shooting our bows and arrows at the archery range in our ravines, walking through the woods, wading through the creek down the road, etc. We were pretty responsible though. We took archery in 4-H and were taught how to handle the bows and arrows safely. We never did anything irresponsible when it came to handling the bows.

I honestly can’t remember if we were allowed to swim in the lake unsupervised or not.

Of course, we didn’t have cell phones or walkie talkies. If something happened while we were away from home, we’d go to a neighbor’s house.

Occasionally we did get scraped up or we’d fall and twist an ankle while running around, but that was part of being a kid.

During nice weather, our parents didn’t want us indoors unless we were doing chores or sick. We could stay inside and read a book if we wanted, and sometimes we did that, but mostly we wanted to be outside.

Yes, we had free roaming rights. We knew how far away we were allowed to go. When I was around 7 years old I walked to school and rode my bike around the neighborhood.

As far as clothes were concerned, we bought most of them from yard sales or the Goodwill. Or my Mom made our clothes.

I found out recently from a co-worker that kids under a certain age can only be so many feet away from their parents. This coworker said his kid was playing down the road at a neighbor’s house. They were outside in the yard and he could see his kid.

A cop stopped by, and when he found out it was his kid down the road, he was told that he could call child protective services and his child could be taken away. This manager told the cop he had no idea that there was a law like that. The cop let him off with a warning. I had no idea there was a law like that either.

Did things really get so bad? I don’t know. But I do know that back in the 60′s and 70′s when I was a kid people could be trusted. Parents didn’t worry about their kids being kidnapped…at least not where I lived. Neighbors looked out for each other.

Why weren’t we treated like consumers back then? Well for one thing, most of us didn’t have televisions. There were many years in my childhood that we didn’t have one. And even when we did have one, we only got 2 or 3 channels, and we were only allowed to watch tv occasionally.

We weren’t bombarded with advertising on radio either…at least I don’t remember that.

As far as drugs are concerned, I never saw drugs in any of my schools…not even once.

Anyway, it’s a very interesting topic, Vanja. I have no idea what happened that things changed so drastically. But I’m glad I don’t have kids.

As far as not having any type of credit, well, I don\’t see a problem with getting a mortgage as long as the family doesn\’t overspend when they buy their home and can make the payments. Credit cards can also be useful on vacation and making online purchases…as long as the bill is paid as soon as it comes in.

I also agree that having a good stash of dough saved up and trying to stay healthy are also important elements.

We may not be able to change the system or change others, but we can change our own behavior.

As far as not having any type of credit, well, I don’t see a problem with getting a mortgage as long as the family doesn’t overspend when they buy their home and can make the payments. Credit cards can also be useful on vacation and making online purchases…as long as the bill is paid as soon as it comes in.

I also agree that having a good stash of dough saved up and trying to stay healthy are also important elements.

We may not be able to change the system or change others, but we can change our own behavior.