How It Used to Be

            It was an interesting weekend for me as I realized how different my childhood was compared to my seven-year-old brother’s. Even though we’re only 12 years apart, with how quickly society is progressing it might as well be much longer.

            I love the weekends (I mean who doesn’t?), especially when I was growing up. Spring and summer weekends were the best because from morning until dusk, sometimes even after, were spent outside. I would help my dad plant flowers, go for bike rides with my mom, play ball with my friends, hang out at the park, walk around town, go swimming, and so many other activities that any normal child should do.

            But this weekend reality hit me like a brick wall. Times have changed. Why is America obese? Because people are too hooked to electronics and being indoors.

            While my parents were away for the weekend I was in charge. Even though yesterday was a bit gloomy, as long as it wasn’t snowing I wanted to relive my childhood and enjoy being home by spending the day outside. When I asked my brother what he wanted to do I didn’t get much of a response. But that wasn’t too shocking since he was playing his DS while sitting in front of the TV. Fishing he said was too boring and he was too tired to go for a walk. The park didn’t sound fun and he was sick of baseball. What was wrong with this kid? My biggest problem would’ve been picking which one I wanted to do first at his age.

            Finally I decided I wanted to go for a bike ride. When I mentioned it he protested. Actually, he threw a temper tantrum and I didn’t understand why. I told him we’d shorten our long bike ride I had planned and make it a quick trip to the bank, which is located just up the road. He still had no interest. I got his bike out anyway and made him start riding around. It didn’t take long to realize why he was so hell bent on not riding it, because he didn’t know how. At seven he couldn’t ride a bike with training wheels let alone without them. How did he never learn? I felt like a failure as a big sister. When I was his age I was biking to my grandma’s house any chance I got because I felt like such a big girl getting to go by myself. I was begging my dad to take my training wheels off when I was five but here he was begging me to just not make him ride it. My have the times changed.

(I would like to mention though that after much practice and many tears I’m proud to say that although he still has the training wheels on he can now peddle around by himself.)

            I had another wake up call when later last night we were watching a movie together and one of the characters was using a payphone. He asked why they did that and said it was silly. It took me a second to catch on to what he was talking about and when I realized he meant the phone I could only laugh as I explained cell phones haven’t always been around, but of course, he doesn’t get that. That’s all he knows in life.

            Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to have grown up in today’s world, but then I realize I never would want to do that. I’m old-fashioned in a lot of ways. I still like when a guy holds the door and lets the girl go first and when he walks on the outside of the sidewalk. I like handwritten letters and dressing nice and I know how to sew a button back on. But I’m also independent in society’s new way by not letting a guy pay for everything and always being available since my phone is on me 24/7. I’ve grown to accept controversial topics such as having an African-American president and accepting gay marriage. So yes, this new era has also changed me for the better.

            I’m scared for what more the future is going to bring. Most people who know me, and even many people I’ve met just once, know that I say when I grow up I’m never going to get married or have kids. Well, only time will tell. But I truly am afraid to be a mother someday because I can’t imagine raising children in a world that is progressing as rapidly as ours. I do know though that if I have kids one day they won’t be addicted to electronics and will be active children who enjoy being outside. That’s how I grew up and I have to say, I think I turned out all right?

It didn't matter what it was that I was doing, as long as I was outside I was happy. I'm still like that today!