Did you ever wonder HOW we survived OUR childhood?

I know what you mean hockeygal, have you ever got that email going around about how we are so lucky we survived. It makes me laugh everytime because it's so true. We shared straws with our friends, we would leave to play in the morning and not come back until the street lights came on at night (without a phone or pager) O I don't remember them all but it's a great read. I also make sure now that my son is wearing his safety equipment that is when I can actually convince him to go outside and play - lol. He would much rather stay in the house with me.

I think we were among the lucky ones to never get seriously injured in a car accident or bike accident or what have you. I believe these safety issues were brought about due to repeated incidents of children being seriously injured from falling off a bicycle with no helmet on, etc. These laws are set in place for our safety and while I agree as I child I did all this stuff and did not suffer from it, I'm the first one to tell the kids (ages 8 and 7) to get their carseat when we're going out. I'm all in favour of doing everything I can to protect them and keep them safe from harm.

omg i do this all the time. I had lead toy soldiers, i had a bike that i could ride without a helmet, i had toy cars that i used to put in my mouth and chew the paint off, it tasted good. I used to play cricket without a box on too. Lol i also used to take a tent down in to wood land where i was born and wouls spend long summer days and nights camping and fishing. No problem, but i know for sure my children have a different childhood, i just wonder how much we have lost?

How right you are, I never wore a bicycle helmet or any other protective gear. I never wore a seat belt, however which ever sibling that was under 2 my mom would always put them in a car seat, don't know why she didn't make us wear seat belts. I don't remember any kids growing up that were killed in a car accident, or severly injured from riding a bicycle. We also were told to always ride against the traffic so that we could see what was happening in front of us, now kids are suppose to ride with the traffic. I don't agree with that. Now my car won't start unless all are buckled in. No riding of bicycles without helmets, skate boarding must where helmet and wrist guards. My children have had their share of skinned knees and elbows from not wearing the pads, but I think that skinned up knees and elbows are a part of growing up. As for playing outside till dark in the vacant field by my house, my kids won't and never will be allowed to do that. Times change some for the good and some not. Good luck here at mylot!

Your right, it was a different world back then. I wish the kids today could experience what we had. And what about the thing we didn't have - like a computer. Imagine that, flipping pages through a book rather than a mouse under your hand, Hahaha

and whatever happened to bullying? it used to be wedgies, now saying "SHUT UP!" is considered bullying

By all rights none of us should have lived past 12 years old. Between everything we did, everything we were exposed to and the chances we took we shouldn't be alive today. At least by what they are saying now a days for kids to have to do to be safe. Personally I think we are protecting them too much at times. We do learn some things when we aren't being over cautious. Sometimes I feel sorry for what kids aren't allowed to do now. There are some things that were so much fun when it wasn't as safe as it is now. Like the wind whipping through your hair as you raced down on hill on a bike, skateboard, rollerskates or sled. Thats a feeling you just won't get with a helmet on. There are many other experiences they won't get to have. Some times it's good to know that they are protected but other times you long for how it was when you were a kid.

maybe they made those rules because in the past there have been a lot of incidents about those stuffs that you just mention and to lessen those incidents, they made the restrictions of wearing helmet and putting on the seatbelt. our kids won't become a wimp, i think. but they have more regard to value themselves more and have more discipline because they can obey simple rules. discipline starts within ourselves and children obeying to have their helmets on while playing is a form of discipline.

Ah, the childhood days were the best days of my life. I am getting nostalgic feelings of my childhood says. Those were the days. We were so careless and so proud of ourselves. I thought that I am invisible and my mother is the most intelligent of all beings and I am the center of the universe and when I do not look at things, they cease to exist!! I know how silly I was when I was a kid. I even thought the sun and the moon follows me wherever I go. And such crazy ideas we had. I live near a river and my parents would always tell me not to swim in the river. Ofcouse I did. And such fun it was. It is a medium current river but still for a child it is too much if we go too far . I would write and write but I don't think it would really help the discussion if I do. I think we survived because there is always someone looking after us. It cannot always chance that when I was about to drown, I was suddenly sweep by the currents and I found a footing!

Hope I do not sound stupid in saying this...but I think that it is just the governments way to have a hold on us and for the manufacturers to make a profit. Okay, so the safety board came up with the fact that if you wear a seat belt you are more likely to survive the crash. But dont you think it still should be my choice whether I wear one or not...its not in my state it is the law and I could get ticketed for not wearing one....is it the safety board trying to save my life or is it the goverment (city/state) just looking to get some extra money for the city. I have those red light cameras in my town, the mayor states that it is to make the intersections more safe. but when they first came up with the idea it was to make money for the city. We survived because our parents took care of us and like you said made us tougher kids....

I know exactly what you're saying hockey gal!! In fact, the other day I was thinking about when I was a kid riding with my parents. I don't remember having or even using seat belts! Our seat belt was my Mom or Dad putting their arm out to stop me from moving forward after a fast brake! I don't think we're raising little whimps, just safer ones now! When I was a kid, I was always going to the emergency room for one accident or another, and it had nothing to do with safety, I was just a clutz! :)

i remember riding in the back of pick up trucks sitting on the wheel wells watching the scereery go by, racing down a hill on bike in bare feet. Stayin out all day in the summer not seeing parents until it was darkand, campin in the backyard, skateboardign adn stuff now my kids will not rolloerblade with out a helmut, skateboard with out gear, ride in vehicle without seatbelt. Now I look back adn wonder how i survivied my childhood when did the world be come such a dangerous place.

What a different world we live in today, huh? I remember when bottled water was water from the hose put into an old milk jug and left on the back porch because Mom didn't want us running in and out of her house all day long. And THAT was if we were lucky enough to have a bottle or jug around. Otherwise, we drank straight from the hose. No such thing as bicycle helmets or all those pads. Shoot, I remember when shoes were optional. Now, I don't see many kids running around without the best sneakers in town. And what's with play dates? My play dates were with my siblings and neighbors everyday of the week. We played basketball in the street, baseball/softball/football in the first available field we could find and we surely didn't worry about trespassing or getting shot at from some passersby on the street. Yeah, it is most definitely a different world we live in today.

come on...i'm still a kid..u'r ruining it for me with those scary phrases :D...u don't survive..u just live it.U can't avoid accidents or something so the only thing that u could do is..live ur life..god bless u

I agree with you! One of these days we are going to see some truly overprotective parent wrap their kids in bubble wrap before allowing them to play outside! Careful is good, but "safety" has gotten a bit out of hand. I'm more concerned about kids NOT getting enough activity (we are raising more fat and unhealthy kids than ever) that the possibility that a kid will break a leg while climbing a tree.

yes and how about the old pill bottles without the child safe lids ...huh go figure that one out ... or how we could ride in the back of gramps pick up truck through the middle of town and not "fall out " duh ... yes its all the government and lawyers ... so who still thinks that passing a no smoking in public places is a good idea ...great then you can start voting on all of the other things the government and lawyers are going to try take awy as well ... it really has gone over board with rules and regualtion ...for petes sake I do have a brain and wouldn 't put my child or famliy in danger ..duh we need a hgelmet to wear to protect us form the government and lawyers ...lol I need to stop this is getting way off the subject ...I say too many rules and regualtions we lived back then we can today ...

Did you ever ride in the back part of the bike where mom or dad rode up front? Fun times! Good times! *L*. Man I should tell you stories... My sister took off down a steep steep hill in the street, on rollerblades, going SO fast she took out several standing trash cans to slow herself down. I never wore a bike helmet till they said it was LAW. But then I was 17 going on 18, not much time left to be a rebel and NOT still do it. I still dont :p I should though, and REALLY do intend to get one soon as I can. I know they are important. You just DONT know that as a kid! :)) Car seats, hum. I dont recall the things but I'm sure I rode in one! As we ALL did! I recall well I DONT recall but I recall my dad pigging backing us when we were tired. I recall riding his legs like he was a machine just for fun. Me on one foot, my sister on the other foot and he could hardly move. I used to walk backwards through the house you know on all fours backwards? What fun! I used to crawl everywhere like a cat. I rode in my sleepbag like I was a snail. Um built houses out of blankets. What fun we had! When I was like 8yrs old I got my first sprained ankle. My right ankle got stuck in a bike wheel the metal part. My first sprain. Oh sigh no fun! After that I did managed to injury my right ankle again, a twist on a bouncer. I somehow hurt my left one at least once more. When I was 15 I bounced down a snowhill on my head, knocked myself out, survived and came away with a fractured rib THAT HURTS! All that for a few weeks of pain :(( The night before I turned 19 my left knee popped out at work. Yeah and then I fell on it and thats a forever injury. Even after an operation to fix it! How did I survive? Lots of guardian angels watching over me and my sister :)) Oh one more. My sister fell off the top bunk bed just right kinda slid to the floor and managed to fracture her thumb. SHE at 6 yrs old cut her arm pretty bad on the glass door. She brought a box of bandaids to my dad to ask for him to put one on her NOT knowing it was THAT bad. It was! My dad had to keep her from bleeding bad, we rushed her to the ER at Kaiser and she got like some stiches! Poor kid, still has that scar too! Oh hum I've written lots. :))

i have no clue bc i had a rough child hood in school area....i was picked on i was beat up in high school, i was the fat kid then bcame the gothic kid,,,,at least then people were to scared to make fun of me...i turned out ok but i still think back.

My favorite was those wooden playgrounds we had... and the metal slides! Nothing was more fun or painful than a splinter from climbing up to the top... or the burns on your butt from the heated metal slide as you went down. Hehehe. i remember my dad also letting me sit on his lap and steer the car as he pushed the petals... no seat belt... Front drivers seat on someone's lap... how am I alive now?

I play hockey and my father has before him, and his father before him, a long generation going far back. The amount of safety concerns and lawsuits has taken alot out of the true meaning behind not just hockey, but any sport. They are there for a reason, obviously to protect the player, but man, hockey, football, rugby, etc are meant to be tough sports and with that comes character and pride. I can only imagine the number of dollars coming out of the industry trying to compensate for the whineybabys players of our major leagues.