Baby Boomers U. S. (The Blog) |
| Posted: 07 Oct 2012 04:05 AM PDT This is a Guest Post by Jack Meyer. If you would like to Guest Post for Baby Boomers US, check out our Guest Post for Us page. I grew up in the mid-west in a middle class family primarily in the 1960's. I remember my first pop tart and listening to the Monkey's for the first time. Life was very easy, simple, and seemed surreal as I think back. Growing up as a baby boomer, born in the 1950's, right at the end of what I think of as the last generation of a pretty neat era. I'm sure a lot of people can look back on their childhoods and remember when things began to change in some way. Being a child in the 60's and becoming a teen in the 70's was quite an overwhelming change in my world. In the mid-west city I grew up in we seldom locked our doors. We walked to school and walked home for lunch. The whole neighborhood was our playground, we played hide and seek, climbed trees, and came home by the street lights. You knew how many times to let your mom yell your name before you were in big trouble if you didn't come. We made mud pies, had gardens, and had supper with neighbors. We only had one car for the whole family and there was only one phone in the house. The black and white television had three channels and only one came in really good. We watched television as a family; no one had a television in their room that I knew of. Every night at ten they asked, “It's ten o'clock; do you know where your children are?” At midnight, and I didn't find this out until I was much older since bedtime was at seven or eight, they put the Indian Chief Pattern on the television and said goodnight. Mom stayed at home, Dad worked. My older brother would walk me home from school; he was responsible for the younger kids. We obeyed our parents and our elders, or else. We did our chores and kept up with our homework. I'm not it was the same at everyone's house but Mom had a schedule. Dinner time was always the same time. We always got after school snacks and she had a hot lunch ready for us when we came home for lunch. Even though we lived in the mid-west with the tornado warnings going off what seemed like every week causing us to flee to the basement I never remember feeling afraid. We also had the movies at school they would play about the atom bomb and what to do if one would drop *smirk*. I guess what I'm saying is that we felt safe and secure. We really reverenced our Presidents; I suppose the reason behind that is because they didn't have as much news coverage. The reporters also respected the President and tried to keep their private lives private. I know the thinking of today is that we should know what kind of character they have in private to see what kind of individual they are when they take office. I really think there is a fine line that we cross in what is truly our business. I believe we have gone way over that line but it's not just the newscasters. The morality of the country has changed so much in these last fifty years. I know everyone was not moral in the past, but I do think they tried not to publicize it the way they do now. I really don't understand why everyone wants to air their dirty laundry like they do now. Why do people like to hear it? It befuddles me to even stand at the grocery check out and see what is plastered all over the magazines. I'm sure a lot of folks think I'm just crazy and a lot nostalgic. I guess I am. I do know that the majority of the Baby Boomers have great pride in their country and that our hearts hurt to see the lack of patriotism and respect that is going on today. It's also frightening to think of what might happen to those of us who are getting older in today's economy. Many older Boomers came from the time when mom stayed home and dad worked. They didn't have really great benefits at their companies back then, like profit sharing, stock options, and 401K plans. I think the best they could hope for was a small retirement and Social Security. I know of many people who rely on Social Security today, for many that is all they have. When I hear the politicians hashing over the Medicare and Social Security “issues” it's a scary thought that your life is in their hands. I've talked to a lot of people about these issues and they are just sure that they will leave the older recipients alone but I'm not so sure. In today's society there is a great lack of respect for not only our Presidents but also our elderly. We had great respect for our elders and I myself always enjoyed listening to the stories and wisdom that they had to share. I can't recall at any time in my life seeing so many children who could care less what their parents think or say. And I'm not just blaming the kids, it has a great deal to do with what they were taught and how much time the parents spent teaching them. I understand that both parents are often working and can't spend as much time with their kids but I also think that because they are working they feel more entitled to time for themselves which even further leaves the kids out to fend for themselves. It's also the attitudes we see projected on television. Do any of these producers and directors really have families and if so, are they really that messed up? I can hardly believe that all the families in America are as messed up as they portray them on television. As a Baby Boomer I have seen a lot of changes in our world. Living through the seventies was quite an adventure, especially being a teenager. Talk about morality changing! And I thought it was getting out of hand then. I have gone through the eighties and nineties and not been particularly affected but it seems in the last ten or so years that there isn't anything you can count on or be sure about anymore. I myself am a Christian and I am so thankful that I can count on my Lord. I'm so glad that my future is not merely in the hands of politicians and government. I am also secure in my family. I have seen so many changes, some for the good and some not so good at all over the years. Depending on your financial situation as a Baby Boomer you could be doing very well. Some are very frightened; I am watching and trusting God for our future. About the Author: Jack Meyer is a regular contributor for http://www.nannybackgroundcheck.com/ . As a detective he wants to spread the knowledge of terrible things that can happen when people don't fully verify the credentials of a caregiver or any employee. He also writes for various law enforcement blogs and sites. You may also want to join the Baby Boomers US Forum for conversations by Baby Boomers about topics important to Baby Boomers! 
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