Wednesday, March 08, 2023

What Was Normal for kids in the '60s, Is a Big No-No Today

According to an article I found online, here is what it shared about growing up in the '60s...

"It's pretty much a miracle that any of us survived childhood in the 1960s! Parents exposed kids to secondhand smoke and let them run wild in the streets. Sugar was in everything and hazards lurked everywhere. Given today's hands-on style of parenting, it's hard to believe some of the things that were "normal" for kids in the '60s."

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I was born in 1955 (a Baby Boomer) and grew up in the '60s. So today, I would like to share what it was like back then, and just how much things have changed regarding what was normal, compared to what is normal now with kids and parenting.  

Now mind you, I am glad I'm a Baby Boomer. Back then, kids were not coddled. There was no therapy. We had to figure things out on our own and find our way. And honestly? I'm glad. It taught me a lot about how to survive and thrive in this world because life can be challenging. I learned at a very early age to love and accept myself, whether the world accepted or approved of me. Make no mistake, it's challenging for kids growing up in today's world as well. They have a different set of challenges. Each generation has its pluses and minuses. And I believe we are each born into the generation we were supposed to be. I was born when I was born because it was the perfect preparation for my own unique journey. It made me resilient, adaptable, and open to change. 

Over the past year, I've read quite a few articles online trashing Baby Boomers. I even read a discussion on social media in which one guy said that he wished that all Baby Boomers would just die off because they are what's wrong with this country. And that once the world is void of Baby Boomers, everything will be much better.

Um...I think not. But he is certainly entitled to his own perception. 

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Below are examples of what it was like growing up in the '60s.

Enjoy this flashback... 

Chewing Sugary Bubble Gum:

When I was a kid, I chewed Bazooka bubble gum. And yes, it was a penny per piece. However, today (with inflation), a person will have to take out a personal loan because Bazooka will eventually escalated to $45.00 per piece!

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Nuns Who Smacked:

Trust me, I went to Catholic school, and yes....the nuns DID use a wooden ruler on my knuckles for things like bad penmanship or chewing gum in class. Just like the one below. If a nun did that today, she would be excommunicated and sent straight to hell on an express elevator. 

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Hitchhiking:

OH MY GOD, can you imagine hitchhiking today? I never did it when I was younger because I was too paranoid about getting into a strange car. Hell, I've never even used Lyft or Uber, in fear of getting picked up by a relative of Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer posing as drivers. LOL!

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No Sunscreen:

Being that I'm in the beauty industry, I should have my tongue ripped out for admitting this. But I have never worn sunscreen. And still don't. Although, I no longer sit in the sun and bake.

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Drinking From Garden Hoses:

As a kid, I used to drink from the garden hose all through the summer. Although I will say, the water did have an odd taste. Like a plastic/metal taste. Oh well, it didn't kill me. I'm still alive. I think.

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Spanking and Hitting:

Being a Baby Boomer, I can assure you that I wasn't traumatized by the occasional spanking I got as a kid. In fact, I can remember only two times getting spanked. A brutal beating is one thing. A spanking for doing something wrong is completely different. I remember one time I got a spanking from my father and he felt so bad about doing it, he ended up crying instead of me. LOL!

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No Childproofing:

Childproofing was hardly a concern when I was a kid. Like the article above mentions, childproofing meant contained in a playpen. And childproof safety caps didn't come out until 1972 in the States. My siblings and I didn't have any serious accidents in our home; despite minimal childproofing. That is until my parents caught me trying to insert their car keys into a living room electrical socket; pretending I was starting the car. OUCH! But even then, I don't know why; I didn't get electrocuted. However, my parents immediately purchased safety covers for all the sockets in our home.

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Smoking was Emulated and Encouraged:

If you've ever seen an episode of Mad Men, you must have noticed that every single person in the series smoked cigarettes. Back in the '50s and '60s, cigarette smoking was the thing to do. Both my parents smoked. In fact, I remember my mother giving me 35 cents to get her a pack of cigarettes at the gas station down the road from our house. She smoked Chesterfield cigarettes with no filter. Later, as I got older (around 18-years old), I started smoking. I wasn't a heavy smoker, but I smoked for a long time. In 2015, I quit. Cold turkey. And haven't had one since. Still, to this day, whenever I see Bette Davis smoking a cigarette in one of her films, I think it looks so cool. Yes, cigarettes are bad for you, I know. And they stink up your clothes. However, unless you were (or still are) a smoker, you can never understand how psychologically and physically addictive they can be. 

Yup, with all its faults, I'm glad I was born in the '50s and grew up in the '60s. And I'm proud to be a Baby Boomer...

Have a faaaaaaabulous rest of your week, everyone!💗