We went to Catholic school also, learned to read, write and do arithmetic, as well as courtesy and obedience. Went to Mass every day. I'll never forget the smell of those dark hallways; floorwax, rubber snow boots and wet wool.
Kids today should be half as happy as we were then. But they're not.
I love and respect all of your posts...but.....lets cut the kids of today a little slack(i'm the mother of 3 of them)...because I feel sorry for them in some ways. They will never get to experience the awsome wonder of a carefree childhood. Todays kids can't go outside and run wild like we used to because the child pediophiles and rapist run amok amongst us. Try taking your child to a carnival or a flea market or even a grocery store and lose them for a minute. I'm sure when that happened to my mother she didn't panic, just searched for us. But not me, if my child is out of my sight thoughts of Adam Walsh run through my mind and terror reigns.
We tell our kids that every single one of them must go to college in order to compete in the global economy, we push and push the school work and the grades yet forget that some just aren't college material and instead of encouraging them in their talents we cut them loose as loosers in our schools and society. Why aren't we proud if our child wants to be a truck driver or an electrician? These are necessary jobs that can pay well.
Fall in love and get married at 18?? are you crazy? you can't get married till your 30! You can't afford a home of your own and you certainly wouldn't make a good parent!
No wonder we have kids living together, kids out of wedlock and kids who are confused..we've taken something as lovely as marriage and turned IT into the worst thing you could do as a young person instead of out of wedlock babies.
Oh, I know that our kids today have tons of technical gadgets, t.v.'s, cell phones, game boys. But sometimes, when you have everything whats to look forward to?