The times they are a changin, darn kids

[David LaPell]

I was in a store today, and even though I am only 33, I have been seeing more instances where I can say "I would never have gotten away with that at their age". Today's example was a 12-13 year old or so boy with his dad in the store. The father tells the kid to do something, to which little junior responds with "Whatever dude" in a very sarcastic tone. I seem to recall that if I had said something like that to my father, I would have been spitting my teeth out like chicklets.

 

[Maddog 521]

IMHO The father is the one to blame. I believe my father would of put the "back hand" into play in that situation.

 

[badam0112]

I agree with the swift back hand comment. However, it would like result in child abuse charges, especially if done in public.

 

[bmhiii]

I seem to recall that if I had said something like that to my father, I would have been spitting my teeth out like chicklets.

You're old enough to remember "chicklets"! Or do they still make them? What the heck do I know....

 

[2Loud4You]

Yeah, NO WAY I would've gotten away with that and I'm 34. To be honest, I'm not sure I'd get away with that now. I agree though, these days even looking at your child with disdain would equal child abuse. Really makes me wonder if I want to have children if my hands are tied when it comes to discipline.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

In this day and age seeing a kid out with his father is a rare sight. I was talking to a 7th Grade teacher in Howell, NJ, a township far from any urban areas, more or less suburban, she said 50% of the kids are in single parent homes. Plus families have their quirks and peculiarities-my one cousin always address his parents by their first names, a rather avant garde thing though I always found it jarring to my ears, without knowing the family better I
would be carefully about jumping to conclusions. I have know a number of people who told me their relationship with their parents was more like siblings than a "true" parent child relationship, and I have know plenty of families whose internal behavior was very squabbly.
Years ago, I drove for a limousine company, one day I was assigned a wedding. I drove up to the bride's home, I heard a battle royale going on between the bride and her mother.
I rang the bell, the Maid of Honor (best friend) answered the door, saw the look on my face and said with a wry smile "They've always been like this."

 

[2Loud4You]

BlackhawkNJ, I've got a friend who I've known for 20 years. He's going through a divorce and has a wonderful son. He absolutely loves him and is determined to be a a very big part of his life. I agree there are far too many young boys growing up without fathers or good male role models. I count myself lucky and blessed to have been raised in a solid family environment with parents that are still happily married.

 

[oldfella]

Children are like young trees, saplings. When you plant them they need to be straight, with the needed nutrients, support, and protection against the elements - There's where parenting come in.

Pete

 

[jimmyj]

Hi:
I well remember the "older generation". My Mother and Father met and married during the "Great Depression". My Parents taught Us the Values from Their Parents.
The last Parent punishment I received was I was 26 years old and a Police Officer. My Mother took a belt to My "Backside" for "Sassing" Her and "Disrespect".
Jimmy

 

[feralmerril]

My mother raised me by herself as a owner of a large country general store durring world war two. She couldnt have me acting out in front of customers. I really cant remember how she did it. I do remember that at age 4 or 5 haveing more freedom rangeing up to 1 to 2 miles from the small village! In todays world she probley would have been jailed! My wife couldnt belive it when I took her home and showed her places I well remember roaming. She had another friend/clerk that had a son my age, and the entire area knew us boys and called us Hans & Fritz after the funny paper cartoon "The katzen Jammer kids".
Probley because we both were german kids like in the cartoon. Dick was blond and I had black hair also as they did in the cartoons. Our dads were gone durring the war.
It didnt hurt us any. And I think we were both well behaved. It was a different day!

 

[Crazy K38]

hell I'm 20 and can't get away with that, don't want to ether that is so disrespectful

 

[USAF385]

Hmm... somehow my parents did it right. I don't recall being hit more than two or three times, but I never acted like that. I guess the few times they smacked me I figured they meant what they said, so I listened from then on. I can't imagine talking to my parents like that.

 

[Beaver]

My Dad was a very good man, provider, worshipped my Mom, etc. However, one dose of feces from me and my bell was rung. I ALWAYS knew where my Dad was. If he was in the room I knew his exact location. I don't ever remember him calling me by my name, when he talked, I was listening.

 

[caseydog]

It's not so much about whether you got whacked or just the evil eye , I only got whacked a few times I remember , but by the time I was allowed/ able to interact with other adults outside my family my father had instilled RESPECT in my everyday life , If the town bum asked who my grandpap was , my answer was WPGeorge SIR. Ahh the joy of growing up rural in the 60's.

Ray

 

[special44]

The time they are a-changin', darn kids

The descriptions of ill manners, disrespect for elders, and otherwise poor behavior in kids
today is a sad commentary on where we have gone as a nation. I am 69 years old and my father nor mother, nor even my aunts and uncles, would have condoned such behavior as we see today. We have gone from a "waste not-want not" society to a "disposable" society. We have seen the breakup of the small family farms, where kid learned work ethics and manners as well as something about religion. Then we had the consolidation of schools from small schools with teachers who loved the kids and taught them well, to big schools with many teachers who looked for quit time and payday. This, coupled with the big government social programs and both parents worn down from work, who paid less and less attention to what their kids were doing, have put this nation on a slippery slope from which we may never recover. Easy access to dope, liquor, and gang activity has exacerbated the problem of poor life choice examples.

 

[flop-shank]

Before someone smacks the kid.............deck the dad!!!!!

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

"Monkey see, Monkey do" to use a phrase from my youth. Foulmouthedness runs in families, as does general lack of manners. I also like to quote the tagline from the otherwise unremarkable movie "Rich Kids"-"The worst part about growing up is finding out your parents
never did."

 

[HAWKEYE10]

One of the things my wife and I see is parents don't
make kids do any thing. They think kids should go to
school and have fun. No work or responsibility. They have
no chores to do, just school and fun. Kids should have fun
and go to school, I did but I worked also. How many kids
do you know that say [yes Mame and no Mame and thank you]
My grandkids don't do it but my daughter does. This is
progress in a liberal world. Don

Maybe I need to read below