Oh how things have changed.

Jennifer freaked out last week when she discovered that she had driven about 25 minutes with Nicklas "unbuckled" but in his car seat. I didn't quite understand why she got upset and it was such a travesty but then I realized that times have changed. When I was a kid (I know you're tired of this) parents didn't have all the "helps" from the experts they have today. There weren't as many laws about transporting children or as many books to tell you how to raise a child. I do believe it is safer to have your kid buckled in, tightened down in his DOT approved traveler and snapped in the special carrier and I'm glad these items exist. As parents, Sue and I worked diligently to see that our kids were safe. When we were kids, however, things were much more simple:

1) We traveled in a "carry-all" unbuckled and in the FRONT seat.
2) When my dad put on the brakes he would reach over and hold me back since there were no seat belts in the car.
3) Spread a blanket on the floorboard behind the front seat and you have a nice little bassinet.
4) It was really comfortable sleeping in the back window of the car (and warm, too).
5) Riding a bike without a helmet is much more fun.
6) Learning to swim? My dad threw me out of the boat and yelled "swim"! This is a true story.
7) Get dirty? We played in the dirt just about every day! Our clothes were permanently "brown" from dirt. We played outside and watched very little TV.
8) Diapers were made of cloth and Mom washed a load of them every day. No one picked them up and cleaned them for her.
9) I could say "NO" to my parents but the result would be s swift slap on the bottom and lots of tears.
10) Momma loved on us a ton and discipline came from Dad.

The world is a different place today for sure. We have adapted to be safe and that is a good thing. I can't wait to throw Nicklas and Luke in the lake and yell "SWIM"!