I remember the cheese of my childhood

[Tucker's Mom]

I REMEMBER THE CHEESE OF MY CHILDHOOD
And the bread that we cut with a knife,
When the children helped with the housework,
And the men went to work not the wife.
The cheese never needed a fridge,
And the bread was so crusty and hot,
The children were seldom unhappy
And the wife was content with her lot.
I remember the milk from the Billy,
With the yummy cream on the top,
Our dinner came hot from the oven,
And not from the fridge; in the shop.
The kids were a lot more contented,
They didn't need money for kicks,
Just a game with our mates in the paddock,
And sometimes the Saturday flicks.
I remember the shop on the corner,
Where a pen'orth of lollies was sold
Do you think I'm a bit too nostalgic?
Or is it....I'm just getting old?
I remember when the ?loo? was the ?dunny?,
And the pan man came in the night,
It wasn't the least bit funny
Going out the back with no light.
The interesting items we perused,
From the newspapers cut into squares,
And hung on a peg in the outhouse,
It took little to keep us amused.
The clothes were boiled in the copper,
With plenty of rich foamy suds
But the ironing seemed never ending
As Mum pressed everyone's ?duds?.
I remember the slap on my backside,
And the taste of soap if I swore
Anorexia and diets weren't heard of
And we hadn't much choice what we wore.
Do you think that bruised our ego?
Or our initiative was destroyed
We ate what was put on the table
And I think our life was better enjoyed.

 

[stovepipe]

Did we go wrong when each generation we grew-up and said we wanted our children to have more than we did? And today the children want more and more and they don't know what they want they just know they want more...

 

[Phillip Gain]

Each generation pisses and moans about the "good old days."

With my generation (children who grew up in the 70s and 80s), we bemoan the loss of the "good old days", before computers, before the law required seat belts, bicycle helmets, lead paint removal, and what-have-you. And of course, we do it in the form of forum posts, or silly memes on Facebook. (How ironic, don't you think?)

Billy Joel said it best. "The good old days weren't always good, and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems."

We have more technology and conveniences than our parents, just as they had more than their own parents. The cold hard fact is this. All we can do is teach our children how to be self-reliant. Teach them that while technology is good, there are things they need to know in case it fails. We can teach them to think critically, and be skeptical of information pushed through media by those in power. They will take what we teach, blend it with what they learn through other channels, and become citizens (and hopefully not subjects) of the country and era in which they occupy.

Knowledge is a weapon. Tactics and strategy for using that weapon flow from critical thinking and awareness of self and surroundings. And we each have the responsibility as a parent to send our children out into the world armed to the TEETH.

The more time we spend whining about a past that will never again be, and crapping on a future that will inevitably be different, the more disservice we are doing to our children.

 

[fuhr52]

That's a good pipe dream Phillip, trouble is soon as they get into the public school system or children are taught to be subjects not citizens. Look to government for all your needs. You can't be the best unless you trample on the less fortunate. Most parents don't seem to care what their children are taught. Teach to the slowest in the class. Don't want to offend those that can't keep up. Sad state we have aloud ourselves to fall into. :help:

 

[Rayb]

That's a good pipe dream Phillip, trouble is soon as they get into the public school system or children are taught to be subjects not citizens. Look to government for all your needs. You can't be the best unless you trample on the less fortunate. Most parents don't seem to care what their children are taught. Teach to the slowest in the class. Don't want to offend those that can't keep up. Sad state we have aloud ourselves to fall into. :help:

That is where Phillip is correct, it is up to us as parents to make sure our children learn the realities of life and don't just accept what the liberal educational institution tries to teach them. It is our duty and responsibility to form them right so they can prosper in a world that is not looking too promising for them.

 

[Oldgrunt]

Philip was right about things being more different today than when we were young and will even be more different tomorrow. I have tried to instill values in my children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren that will help them not only to survive but to also prosper. The future doesn't look too rosy right now but that will be their challenge.

I did like Mom's post though and it filled me with nostalgia for what used to be a wonderful time in my life, even with the struggles we had back in the 40s. Even with the war, we had a good family life, not exactly as Norman Rockwell depicted, but we endured hardships with a smile because we didn't know any better. Over the years our lives have steadily increased with more knowledge and fascinating technologies but, there are days when I would give anything to have the family and friendships back. No matter how well one has done in life, I feel that we all have that longing for what used to be. Thanks Mom for posting it.

 

[AppliedPerspective]

...snip... trouble is soon as they get into the public school system or children are taught to be subjects not citizens. Look to government for all your needs. You can't be the best unless you trample on the less fortunate. Most parents don't seem to care what their children are taught. Teach to the slowest in the class. Don't want to offend those that can't keep up. Sad state we have allowed ourselves to fall into. :help:

That exactly why I decided before I even graduated from high school that my kids would never go through public schools. It took a few years of talking about it to get my wife (girlfriend when I first brought it up) on board, but there's a lot of homeschooling support in our church which has helped out a lot. Over 90% of the kids in our church are homeschooled, actually. Even (or especially?) the kids whose parents are teachers in public schools.

When we first got together, she liked the idea of guns, but hadn't shot very much. She didn't see the need for carrying one with you. She thought public schools were just fine. She wasn't worried about making sure we have enough supplies to live from if the grid goes down. She was more concerned with the color of the walls than what's in the med kit. Now she's figuring out ways to save more money to buy bullets, fresh food, canning supplies, medical supplies and homeschooling curriculum. Instead of Baby Einstein, she reads our 1 year old son Proverbs (I read him Call of the Wild and Tom Sawyer... :tongue.
If you don't stand for something, you stand for nothing. Other than to love Jesus, the two things I want my kids to learn above all else from the Bible are Proverbs 22:3 and 22:29. "A wise man sees danger coming and prepares for its arrival, but the simple walk right into it and suffer the consequences." and "Do you see the man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings and dignitaries. He will not serve unknown men." Love Jesus, be watchful and prepared, and whatever you do - do it to the best of your ability. These principles are not taught in public schools.