We "borrowed" the next-door neighbors' dog to play with, without ever asking, and no one ever got in trouble. No one got sued when he knocked us down and scratched us with his claws, either.
Girl Scouts went door to door.
Teachers were allowed to hug a kid when they needed the comfort.
Teachers were allowed to punish a child without fearing censure from their boss and frothing-at-the-mouth diatribes from the parents.
We got spanked when we deserved it, and no one called child protective services about it.
Neighbors were adopted family and best friends-- people who gave the grownups homemade wine and let the kids run wild through their yard.
You could carry a pocket knife in your car without wondering if it would get you suspended from school.
Sometimes I wonder if I really /want/ to become a parent, these days. :/
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2003-02-10 12:13 am (UTC)Girl Scouts went door to door.
Teachers were allowed to hug a kid when they needed the comfort.
Teachers were allowed to punish a child without fearing censure from their boss and frothing-at-the-mouth diatribes from the parents.
We got spanked when we deserved it, and no one called child protective services about it.
Neighbors were adopted family and best friends-- people who gave the grownups homemade wine and let the kids run wild through their yard.
You could carry a pocket knife in your car without wondering if it would get you suspended from school.
Sometimes I wonder if I really /want/ to become a parent, these days. :/