I'm 70 and my mother and father were both kind and loving parents but they made sure not to spoil us. I remember as a toddler being included in the family chores as a fun game to be included in. Soon I was challenged by my Dad once around 5 or 6 when he was taking out the trash and I was going with him and he asked if I was strong enough…
I'm 70 and my mother and father were both kind and loving parents but they made sure not to spoil us. I remember as a toddler being included in the family chores as a fun game to be included in. Soon I was challenged by my Dad once around 5 or 6 when he was taking out the trash and I was going with him and he asked if I was strong enough to carry the trash to the cans. I said yes I was strong enough, the trash bag was heavy for me but my Dad was cheering me along all the way. I remember being out of breath but feeling satisfied I was able to do it. Guess who got the task of taking the trash to the cans after that. Once many weeks later my Dad observed me dragging the trash cans up to the back porch and putting the trash in the cans and then drag the cans back down the driveway to the curb. He asked why I did that and I said "It's easier to drag the cans because they have a handle." He laughed and said why don't you put the trash in the large toy wagon we had and that might be easier. I took the trash down since then in the wagon. Birthdays was one big present and ice cream and cake, sometimes in addition to the big present my mom would include school clothes as my birthday came just before school started in the fall. Christmas was a big deal! Getting the tree was a family affair and everyone got a voice in which tree to get and we all helped tying it to the roof of the car. We put the tree up but did not decorate it until December 23rd as a family and we sang Christmas carols all while decorating it, big fun even in my teen years. Being Irish Catholic we went to midnight mass except for my Dad who never went(because he stayed behind to put all the presents under the tree and assembly any toys that needed it.) and when we returned everything was in place, Santa had come while we were at mass and everything looked beautiful. We were allowed to open one small gift and then to bed. Both of my parents grew up in the great depression and both were veterans of WWII and their Christmas's growing up were not as jolly as the ones they provided for their children. I remember once at 18 I asked my mom once what was the best Christmas gift she got as a child. She replied an orange. I was about to laugh but I saw her looking like she was going to tear up so I stopped held her hand and said I was sorry. She then told me with a smile that having the big Christmas was as much fun for her and my Dad as it was for us! I remember my Dad's words of advice he said a few times "I'll not handicap my children by making life easy for them." We got no weekly allowance for doing household chores, that was doing our part as a family member. If I wanted spending money I had to make it myself. Lucky for me I lived in the times of glass bottles and you could get a nickel for each bottle until they lowered the refund to two cents. I remember well using that wagon to walk up and down the road looking for pop bottles and always finding plenty. Back in those days to sound like an old foggie I could redeem 5 pop bottles and in return get 25 cents with which I could purchase a 10 cent comic book, a 5 cent 7 ounce coke, a 5 cent chocolate bar and a pack of bubble gum. I also collected wild blackberries and sold them to neighbors. As I got older I mowed lawns, shoveled driveways, cleaned gutters, baled hay, broke colts and many other jobs while growing up. Not once did I ever feel I was deprived of anything nor did I envy my friends who didn't have to do these things for money. I took great pride in knowing I earned the money in my pocket and no one just gave me a handout or allowance of performing household chores. It wasn't all work for me I played all the sports though junior high and through high school but I always found the time to put a little cash in my pocket. Ramblings from an old man and USMC veteran looking back on his years growing up and feeling great pride in knowing I had the best childhood anyone could have had. The following generations I pity not knowing the joy I experienced and the simple joys they will never know because they all keep looking for the next best thing. Thanks for reading this entire post, LOL, I know most won't!
I'm 70 and my mother and father were both kind and loving parents but they made sure not to spoil us. I remember as a toddler being included in the family chores as a fun game to be included in. Soon I was challenged by my Dad once around 5 or 6 when he was taking out the trash and I was going with him and he asked if I was strong enough to carry the trash to the cans. I said yes I was strong enough, the trash bag was heavy for me but my Dad was cheering me along all the way. I remember being out of breath but feeling satisfied I was able to do it. Guess who got the task of taking the trash to the cans after that. Once many weeks later my Dad observed me dragging the trash cans up to the back porch and putting the trash in the cans and then drag the cans back down the driveway to the curb. He asked why I did that and I said "It's easier to drag the cans because they have a handle." He laughed and said why don't you put the trash in the large toy wagon we had and that might be easier. I took the trash down since then in the wagon. Birthdays was one big present and ice cream and cake, sometimes in addition to the big present my mom would include school clothes as my birthday came just before school started in the fall. Christmas was a big deal! Getting the tree was a family affair and everyone got a voice in which tree to get and we all helped tying it to the roof of the car. We put the tree up but did not decorate it until December 23rd as a family and we sang Christmas carols all while decorating it, big fun even in my teen years. Being Irish Catholic we went to midnight mass except for my Dad who never went(because he stayed behind to put all the presents under the tree and assembly any toys that needed it.) and when we returned everything was in place, Santa had come while we were at mass and everything looked beautiful. We were allowed to open one small gift and then to bed. Both of my parents grew up in the great depression and both were veterans of WWII and their Christmas's growing up were not as jolly as the ones they provided for their children. I remember once at 18 I asked my mom once what was the best Christmas gift she got as a child. She replied an orange. I was about to laugh but I saw her looking like she was going to tear up so I stopped held her hand and said I was sorry. She then told me with a smile that having the big Christmas was as much fun for her and my Dad as it was for us! I remember my Dad's words of advice he said a few times "I'll not handicap my children by making life easy for them." We got no weekly allowance for doing household chores, that was doing our part as a family member. If I wanted spending money I had to make it myself. Lucky for me I lived in the times of glass bottles and you could get a nickel for each bottle until they lowered the refund to two cents. I remember well using that wagon to walk up and down the road looking for pop bottles and always finding plenty. Back in those days to sound like an old foggie I could redeem 5 pop bottles and in return get 25 cents with which I could purchase a 10 cent comic book, a 5 cent 7 ounce coke, a 5 cent chocolate bar and a pack of bubble gum. I also collected wild blackberries and sold them to neighbors. As I got older I mowed lawns, shoveled driveways, cleaned gutters, baled hay, broke colts and many other jobs while growing up. Not once did I ever feel I was deprived of anything nor did I envy my friends who didn't have to do these things for money. I took great pride in knowing I earned the money in my pocket and no one just gave me a handout or allowance of performing household chores. It wasn't all work for me I played all the sports though junior high and through high school but I always found the time to put a little cash in my pocket. Ramblings from an old man and USMC veteran looking back on his years growing up and feeling great pride in knowing I had the best childhood anyone could have had. The following generations I pity not knowing the joy I experienced and the simple joys they will never know because they all keep looking for the next best thing. Thanks for reading this entire post, LOL, I know most won't!