As a kid~~ nostalgia

When I was a child my clothes came from Ben Franklin store,  Mrs Larson’s sewing machine , Kline’s , also Montgomery Wards store. . During the Summer, we ate fruit off  the trees ( sometimes neighbors fruit trees... not always with their permission and dad made me return the apple with an apology! ). We swam in the creek and Crystal Lake . Eating out at a restaurant was a huge deal that only happened only on rare occassions. . Fast food was left overs from the last home meal... or two... or three. Eating popsicles was a treat on hot days that  mom made with Kool aid inside ice cube trays. . 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 to go outside to play. Mom and dad worked hrs that usually one or the other was home ... nobody paid for daycare.

We always ate dinner at the table. One year mom got “TVtrays” but we never really used them. 

We went to school everyday... we didn’t have a choice. Our phone hung on the  dining room wall , hAd  “party line listeners ”there were NO private conversations or cell phones! We rode bikes, played  Tag, Kick the Can, Mother May I, Hopscotch, Cops and Robbers, Red Light Green Light, Red Rover, Hide & Seek, Truth or Dare,Tag, Kick Ball, Dodge Ball,eavy ivy over,  and Baseball in our front yard or the street. Kids  played together ioutside . We came home when it got dark. Children were seen and not heard. Staying in the house was a Punishment for something you did wrong. You learned never to say that you were “Bored”.... that would be quickly followed with... “I’ll find something for you to do!"

We ate what mom made for dinner or we ate nothing at all or stayed at the table until your plate was clear.”children in China were starving”.. esp heard on liver and onions night. 

There was no bottled water; we drank from the tap or the water hose.

After 5th grade , we got our first TV. We watched cartoons on Saturday mornings, and rode our bikes for hours and ran around in the streets until dark and came in before my mom had to find us (the outside light came on and it meant time to come inside) 

Sunday you went to SS and church We heard about the Golden Rule.... but really did not learn the meaning until you got older! 

We weren’t AFRAID OF ANYTHING.

School was mandatory and teachers were people who you could TRUST and respect.  One teacher had a paddle she hung up on the shelf saying she “hoped to never have to use it”  great psychology.. she never did  have tonuse it   The threat reminded us all. Lol 

We watched what we said around our elders because In a town as small as Lee Center, the grapevine was alive and well , stretching from one parents home tomthe other.   And you didn't want them telling your PARENTS if you misbehaved.

These were the good ole days. Only those like us elderly ppl  truly understand the simplicity was wonderful. No busy schedules in sports, and other activities piled on heavily.  We grew up being “ home”

I often wonder if  some Kids today will ever  know how it feels to be a real kid. In Lee Center I see kids being kids like we knew it to be but elsewhere , i see empty parks and yards   

I loved my childhood...!