This might be a strange blog for an author's website, but it was on my mind the other night so here it is! As I was trying to sleep, I kept coming up with things that I experienced and enjoyed during my childhood that my kids probably never really will because of the cultural and technological changes the world has gone through and will continue to go through. It got me to thinking about how their experience will be different than mine. It's interesting to think about. What things will be different for their kids? And the kids after that? Here are a few things that I experienced as a child that my kids likely never will.
-Walking to School
When I was a kid, walking home from school was something I did on a regular basis. I lived within a mile of the elementary school and the Jr. High so when it was a nice day, my mom simply wouldn't pick me up and my friends and I would walk. This is something that my girls will likely never do. One, because we live a few extra miles away from the school (about a 15 minute drive so walking that would be rather far!). And two, just because the world is a different place now. It's not that things didn't happen back when I was a kid. I'm sure they did. But we didn't hear about them as much. Now, kids can't go on a bike ride without being kidnapped or something equally awful. I don't know if it's the media or if more bad things are happening, but I don't know that I would be trusting enough to let my kids walk to or from school, even if we lived close enough. And that's too bad. I enjoyed the extra bonding time with my friends to decompress after the day's work....talk about boys...and just be outside!
-Number Munchers and Oregon Trail
When I was growing up, computers were just coming on the scene a little bit. There was maybe two at school and on occasion, we would get to play Number Munchers or Oregon Trail on them. A friend of mind had one and we played those games in awe. Computers were a rarity and the games were rudimentary, but they were the coolest things ever and so much fun. Now, computers are everywhere. I don't know that any game will ever be that cool again because there are so many and they aren't special any more, you know? Kids have ready access and it's no longer a treat...it's almost a necessity. I'm sure there are other things out there that are just as awe inspiring to kids today, but awe at games like this will not be one of them!
-Disconnection
Remember when not everyone had a cell phone? Remember how there were times that you just couldn't get a hold of your friends? You have to leave a message or something and wait for them to get home in order to call you back? Weird thinking that kids today won't really have that experience. Cell phones and smart phones are wonderful. I have one myself and enjoy it greatly. But I think I appreciate what it can do for my life because I remember what life was like before. It's not like I was lacking then or anything. I got through every day just fine without being able to call and email and text and so on. But my kids? They won't know a world without these capabilities. Now, I don't know when we'll get my daughters cell phones. Certainly not any time soon. But just the idea that you can pretty much get a hold of someone at anytime and always be within reach yourself no matter where you are is a whole new world. It's not only a convenience, but a safety issue a lot of the time. I hope my girls have the strength to disconnect from time to time and be out of reach (to everyone but me maybe) so they can understand a quieter world.
-The Ice Cream Man
There was nothing better on a hot day then the sound of the ice cream man's truck running through the neighborhood. I'm sure they're still out there, but they don't come around our house. My girls will have to go to the freezer or to the store to get that kind of treat. And while that's still nice, it's just not the same!
There are plenty more and I could go on and on, but I want to hear more from you and what you experienced that your kids will not experience because of the change in times. Let me a comment or send me a message. You never know when these ideas might turn into a book! There, I rounded the blog entry back around to writing. Happy? :) I am. Ha!
-Walking to School
When I was a kid, walking home from school was something I did on a regular basis. I lived within a mile of the elementary school and the Jr. High so when it was a nice day, my mom simply wouldn't pick me up and my friends and I would walk. This is something that my girls will likely never do. One, because we live a few extra miles away from the school (about a 15 minute drive so walking that would be rather far!). And two, just because the world is a different place now. It's not that things didn't happen back when I was a kid. I'm sure they did. But we didn't hear about them as much. Now, kids can't go on a bike ride without being kidnapped or something equally awful. I don't know if it's the media or if more bad things are happening, but I don't know that I would be trusting enough to let my kids walk to or from school, even if we lived close enough. And that's too bad. I enjoyed the extra bonding time with my friends to decompress after the day's work....talk about boys...and just be outside!
-Number Munchers and Oregon Trail
When I was growing up, computers were just coming on the scene a little bit. There was maybe two at school and on occasion, we would get to play Number Munchers or Oregon Trail on them. A friend of mind had one and we played those games in awe. Computers were a rarity and the games were rudimentary, but they were the coolest things ever and so much fun. Now, computers are everywhere. I don't know that any game will ever be that cool again because there are so many and they aren't special any more, you know? Kids have ready access and it's no longer a treat...it's almost a necessity. I'm sure there are other things out there that are just as awe inspiring to kids today, but awe at games like this will not be one of them!
-Disconnection
Remember when not everyone had a cell phone? Remember how there were times that you just couldn't get a hold of your friends? You have to leave a message or something and wait for them to get home in order to call you back? Weird thinking that kids today won't really have that experience. Cell phones and smart phones are wonderful. I have one myself and enjoy it greatly. But I think I appreciate what it can do for my life because I remember what life was like before. It's not like I was lacking then or anything. I got through every day just fine without being able to call and email and text and so on. But my kids? They won't know a world without these capabilities. Now, I don't know when we'll get my daughters cell phones. Certainly not any time soon. But just the idea that you can pretty much get a hold of someone at anytime and always be within reach yourself no matter where you are is a whole new world. It's not only a convenience, but a safety issue a lot of the time. I hope my girls have the strength to disconnect from time to time and be out of reach (to everyone but me maybe) so they can understand a quieter world.
-The Ice Cream Man
There was nothing better on a hot day then the sound of the ice cream man's truck running through the neighborhood. I'm sure they're still out there, but they don't come around our house. My girls will have to go to the freezer or to the store to get that kind of treat. And while that's still nice, it's just not the same!
There are plenty more and I could go on and on, but I want to hear more from you and what you experienced that your kids will not experience because of the change in times. Let me a comment or send me a message. You never know when these ideas might turn into a book! There, I rounded the blog entry back around to writing. Happy? :) I am. Ha!
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