Do you remember?

[doxdogy]

With all the kidnappings in the news lately, I began to think about when I was growing up. How lucky I was. We were able to freely roam the neighborhood during the summer. Outside in the morning and inside for dinner and back outside until past sundown. Of course, my parents knew where I was and who I was with during these times. We were able to scour the neighborhoods collecting coke bottles and turning them in for money and then coming home with comic books, candy and gum. Many times parents would sit outside at night talking, while we played hide and seek, had water balloon fights and whatever else we could figure out to do to entertain ourselves. It just saddens me that kids today aren't able to experience this type of fun. Does anyone else ever feel this way? Or I am just being a sentimental fool?

 

[kejoda]

Oh yes we were so lucky. We had neighbors across the street that would play basketball at all hours so anytime we couldn't sleep we could go play. We also played hide and go seek in the middle of the night. we even had some adults play with us. I just can't imagine my kids doing that now.

 

[JasonLyons]

if your a boy your still kind of safe, most of these preditors seem to go after girls

 

[Beauty]

We used to ride our bikes to the park about a mile away...never once thought of anything happening. We would also walk to the mall....its sad.

 

[Grog]

I'm so glad I was a kid thirty years ago and not now. I feel so sorry for them

 

[Krisu]

As a kid growing up I walked everywhere, school, library, church. I feel badly that my DS doesn't have the same opportunity. Neighborhoods change and there aren't many people home during the day either. But it's definately scarier if you have a girl.

 

[supercarrie]

I am still technically a kid but I remember those times! I loved being able to go across the street and play at the park until sunset, when I ran back home for dinner. I would ride my bike to the back of the neighborhood to my friend's houses and we would play outside all day long during the summer. I suppose it wasn't completely safe then, but there was always a parent around to watch us. Now there are very few young kids in my neighborhood, thus few parents to watch them, so my sister isn't allowed to go play outside alone.

We have tried to keep the details of the kidnappings away from her, but when Samantha Runnion's kidnapper was on the loose not far from us, my mom told her about it so she would understand why everyone was on such a high alert. Now she is even scared to go outside alone, even to get the mail.

 

[nativetxn]

I remember feeling safe, but I also remember that a man tried to lure me into his car when I was 6 years old. It happened even way back in 1955

 

[kinlaw6450]

I love my neighborhood. I live at one end and my best friend lives at the other. on a cul de sac...everyone knows us and them. They were out tonight riding bikes and playing in the street with the other kids. I know I can't take it for granted but with all of us out there THAT really reminded me of my childhood.

 

[SDAngel101]

It wasn't that long ago when i was a kid, but i remember being able to walk home from the park (about half a mile away) with my brothers at like 7pm, or walk home by myself from my friends house a few blocks away at 8pm.

Now my little brother(12) and sister(10) are out at night riding bikes down the bike trails in the canyon at dusk. I am not worried about them because of where we live, and it being a safe neighbothood.

Because of the location of my school, being so close to downtown SD, i know not to walk around there at night. And if i do, i am allways with a group of friends and atleast one guy.

 

[CathyCanada]

I know exactly what you are talking about. I was talking about the same thing with friends on the weekend. How sad that we have to be "over protective" for our children's own safety.
CC

 

[Pin Wizard]

I used to love playing basketball after dinner with my sister and my dad. We had a great time! We'd be out there playing in the dark having so much fun that we didn't care if it was pitch black. Now with all the rules of a homeowner's assoc., we can't have that hoop on the garage.

 

[tiggerlover]

I remember those days well. It is such a shame that the world we live in has changed so drastically that our kids can't have the same freedom we had growing up.

I suppose now we are the people I remember when I was a kid saying "oh I remember when life was so simple, we could do this, we could do that, candy bars cost 25 cents"...(I think you get the picture).....it is funny how times change. It is a scary world we live in.

 

[KimRaye]

Ahhhh.. the good ole days! Playing at the park Unattended, riding bikes Unattended, being Gone all day Unattended!

What I'd like to know is, what happened to "Stranger Danger" visits from a local police officer, like I had as a kid? I knew the same stuff to avoid as a kid but, it NEVER happened! Back to basics, imo. Teach the kids early.

Not that it would change MY mind about letting 4yo DD out by herself!

Times have changed. Very sad.

 

[Lady M]

doxdogy, I remember all of those things you recalled from your childhood. As children, we had so much more freedom to roam around our neighborhoods and towns and simply enjoy growing up in a normal, fun manner. I think it is so sad that today parents have to be very protective, even overprotective, of their children in order to keep them safe.

While there were always pedophiles and kidnappers, I do believe our world today is more violent and more perverse. It does sadden me that the level of evil has reached, in my opinion, an all-time high. My hope is that things will eventually get better somehow and that the pendulum will swing back to a safer and saner world and society. Sounds like I'm hoping for a miracle, but miracles do happen sometimes!

Marie

 

[snoopy]

I remember those days, and I grew up in the heart of Baltimore City. Back then, even when you lived in the city, you never thought to lock your doors. Kids could play stickball in the street, we could run all over the neighborhood, we walked to the movies and the store and the park all the time. These days people who live in Baltimore city are afraid to leave their house at night.

Marie, I agree with you, I think while crime and child molesters may have been around back then, it was in no way comparable to what we have now. Sad.

 

[Tony-NJ]

to have to be a kid today and worry about these things. Although I remember back in 1977, when they knew the Son Of Sam was in our area, my Mother made my sister cut her long brown hair!!

Other than that - we lived in a safe neighborhood.

 

[Boo'sMom]

Childhood was so carefree then....
we were outside from dawn to dusk, and if our parents didn't know exactly where we were, you could bet your last quarter one of the other moms or dads did...and would make sure you were behaving.
I just said to my mom the other day...I can't believe you used to let me ride from our house into the village (a mile away) and I'd ride my bike to the park....etc...

We took it all for granted.