When you were a child? What was different then?

Question

I am 55. When I was a child, we had milk delivered to our house every morning, women could not get credit in the name only; had to be co-signed by their husbands (what did single women do?), diapers were not throw-away, and the grocery stores were real small (the buildings still stand; but no longer grocery stores; usually auto part stores inside now). Except for computers, color tv, and fm radio, not much else changed over the years. What is different now for you, vs back then?

Please don't say cell phone. That is still a phone. They were on walls back then.

Answer 1

I'm 28. We had milk delivered at our home every morning too!
There were Saturday morning cartoons (SMURFS, Snorks, Muppet Babies, Hello Kitty), wore your finest to church on Sundays and came home to a mini Thanksgiving dinner, mom stayed home and saw the us kids off to school while dad worked at a pharmacy, we played outside til the street lights came on: the rule: if it isn't raining, you're going outside! We ate home made cupcakes in school because moms were allowed bring in baked goodies then. Teachers were allowed to give us hugs, and kiss our foreheads without being reprimanded. We didn't have 1000 vaccines to take! Kids were kids, teens were teens; now kids are having sex as young as 10! Grandparents flew for $25 from VA to NJ to see us at least once a month because flights were so cheap. We didn't have to worry if we (kids) were dressed in any colors or style that suggest gang affiliation. Neighbors knew each other, families were closer knit in relationships. Life was good. I wouldn't want to be a kid in today's society, too stressful! What a wonderful question, David!

Answer 2

As kids, we drank water out of a hose with no fear of bacteria; we were allowed to run the neighborhood or be let loose at a carnival or fair without fear of being kidnapped or molested; school was the most important thing in our life (per our parents' say so); punishment for disrespecting elders was a lot more severe than it is now; we all sat down to dinner together (it was required); we didn't have carseats or have to wear seatbelts and we weren't afraid of getting hurt (nor were our parents); our playground equipment was metal set in concrete with no grass and no soft mulch -- if we wanted something more fun, we climbed trees, etc.; we didn't have video games or other toys that made the noise for us -- we had to be imaginative on our own; we had drive-in movies instead of theaters; there were no malls just individual shops; and one thing I will always remember: on certain days (there was a set schedule) getting up in the morning before it was light out and going to wait in line for hours just to get gas -- my brother and I were very, very little and we would just lay in the back seat and sleep while we waited.

Except for the gas thing, I wish my kids could experience life like we used to have it.

Answer 3

Yeah, I remember being a kid and my mom making me go shake out the poopy cloth diapers in the toilet. They didn't have diaper wipes either I don't think. When I was little we didn't have cable, remote controls, microwaves, vcr's, computers, we didn't wear seatbelts, didn't have airbags, we had rotary phones 1 in the house and you had to wait your turn, when kids misbehaved we got smacked, and if you misbehaved in school or in public you got smacked even harder. We had Atari, but like 1 kid on the whole block had it and we only get to play now and then, so we went outside and played with bikes, jump ropes, hula hoops, and basketballs. I don't really remember there being many fat kids then. I do remember being able to walk to the store and buy cigarettes for my mom, and people smoking everywhere, in the DMV, post office, and the hospital even.

Answer 4

I was a lot younger, smaller and my parents paid for everything! I loved living free and not having a care in the world except for myself and my friends. People had to use common sense too, the govt and laws didn't interfere in everyone's daily lives and "political correctness" DID NOT EXIST!!! People also knew how to use rotary phones, even the kids! And we actually played outside without fear of some pervert or kidnapper or witch hunt! Bring back those days but, keep today's technology advances!

Answer 5

Bucky Covington's song "Different World" sums it
all up pretty well.

He says how our generation grow up just fine without bottled water because we all just drank from a garden hose (I drank right from the outside faucet), we had cribs and walls painted with lead paint. We had no seat belts or car seats, no bike helmets. Most of our mothers smoked and drank when they were pregnant. Most parents gave us the belt or a spanking when we misbehaved. We took responsibility for our actions. Stores were closed on Sundays. We played outside with our friends even in the wintertime we were mostly outside. I walked to school from kindergarten until third grade (1 mile) and from fourth grade until high school I had to walk a half mile to get to the bus stop. Now buses stop at every house. We said the pledge of allegiance and prayed in school. English was the only language spoken in school unless you were taking a language class (French, Spanish, Latin, German). All gas stations were full service stations. We had Marcus Dairy milk delivered daily also and we had Charles Chips deliver weekly chips and pretzels. I can say I miss that world, it was a lot safer for kids growing up.

Answer 6

My friends and I could be left outside alone all day on the weekends to play without our parents fearing that we'd be kidnapped, molested, killed, etc.

Everyone let their dogs run loose--there were no leash laws. Strangely enough, I never saw dog fights or dog attacks on people.

We didn't have digital cable. Hell, we didn't even have regular cable. I grew up in the sticks and we were poor. :)

VCRs and microwaves were luxuries and were VERY expensive.

Answer 7

Life was much simpler during the 50's...people were more courteous and respectful of others, kids followed rules and were more disciplined, TV programs were clean and everyone watched together, everyone ate dinner togehter.....I miss those times...

Answer 8

my parents were still alive!! 5 ppl shared one phone and we had one channel on a black & white tv...movies were rare and special and it was a better world then..

Answer 9

I was shorter.

Answer 10

everyone i don't know .. even You !!