I Miss…
When ordering fried chicken didn’t earn you a disapproving stare.
When treating your child to a happy meal was innocent.
When parents were parents and friends were friends.
When telling your child “no” without having to offer explanation or talk about feelings was just part of being a parent.
When “One Nation Under God” was proudly belted out every morning in every classroom from California to New York.
When a child misbehaving didn’t require a therapist.
When being stuffed in a garbage can at school was just part of growing up and didn’t require government intervention or a nationally funded campaign.
When popping the kid that stuffed you in a garbage can right in the “kisser” didn’t earn you a juvenile record but instead a trip to the Principal’s office and a call home.
When giving spankings was considered being an involved and attentive parent.
When fruit loops weren’t considered child abuse.
When a smart mouth was hushed by a bar of soap.
When shouting “Just wait until your father gets home!” or “Don’t make me bend you over my knee!” didn’t have the neighbors dialing 911.
When “stand by your man” didn’t end with “so long as…”
When homosexuality wasn’t deemed “hip” or trendy but was simply a sexual preference.
When boys had to call girls for a date, not the other way around.
When acting like a lady was considered honorable and not a sign of weakness.
When sex education consisted of condoms and bananas and didn’t require the Kama-Sutra.
When all teachers had to do was teach, not parent.
When “you look nice today” didn’t earn you a spot in the unemployment line and signing a hefty settlement check.
When women didn’t take offense to men that open their door and simply said “thank you” with a smile.
When play dates didn’t require an appointment book.
When humans had more rights than pets.
When protecting your family was an open and shut case and didn’t require an attorney and legal fees.
When “turning green” meant you need to see a doctor.
When “Made In America” meant designed, assembled, distributed, sold, and serviced in America.
When grandpa’s said “You can be anything you want to be if you work hard and want it bad enough” and kids didn’t disregard the “work hard” part.
When needing milk and hardware meant you had to go to two different stores.
When being proud to be white wasn’t a sin and proud to be anything else didn’t constitute reason for a parade.
When scholarships were given for academics & financial hardships, not skin color or gender.
When “equal rights” didn’t mean favoritism but, simply meant just that: Equal.
When we had a president that was proud to be American.
When capitalism was simply what we are, what we were founded upon, and not up for debate.
I miss you, America.
AMEN, sister! What a freakin’ AWESOME post!