i was forced to eat home made bread and home baked cookies. store-bought was too frivolous! i had to drink milk that came to us from a milk man, who delivered to the door. i was made to eat apples that grew in the back yard, and i was forced (child labor, here) to help make pickles, put up tomatoes, make jam, and freeze fresh corn and lots of other veggies. my mom made me hang out the clothes, and even take them back IN, for heaven's sake. i was barefoot most of the time, and happily rode my bike without a helmet. i played in the neighborhood without a cellphone in my pocket (we didn't even have a private line in our house!), and if my mom wanted me home, she either rang an old handbell out the back door, or hit up the old "triangle", like they had on a chuckwagon. and if i did something wrong, i not only got it from my friends' moms, i got it again from my own!
my heroes rode horses recklessly, shot at each other with guns, never kissed the girl, never took off their shirts or anything else, and when they were done with the task at hand, either sat around a campfire and sang, or rode off into the sunset.
i had to ask permission to turn on the one, only, black-and-white t.v.. i had to ask if i could use the phone. i even had to ask if i could have a snack. when i got a gift, i was required to write a thank you before i could really use it. i was required to change my clothes after school, and could never wear sunday clothes during the week. and on sunday, i was required to wear my "good" clothes all day, and act like a lady.
i'm surprised i survived childhood. but somehow, i managed to live through it. whew. such a burden... and i know oh, so many folks who would have loved to have been so "burdened" when they were young! i'm a lucky lady!!