Debbie's Chat Corner: I'm Just OLd

Thursday, February 10, 2011

I'm Just OLd

I'm old and I know I'm old. And before I go into my rant, I know full well that my age will be showing all over the place. So if you're tired of hearing older women ponder and compare things from modern times to the "Good Ole Days", you may want to move to another blog. You've been warned...so here goes! When did it become acceptable to let children be "In relationships"? I'm not talking about the 16 & up crowd. Oh! I know! When I was in junior high, the boys would give their favorite girl their initial ring or ID bracelet and we would call it going steady. 2 or 3 weeks later the boy would ask for it back so he could give it to someone else. OR the girl would get a crush on another boy which would require her to give the bracelet or ring back in hopes the other boy would ask her to wear his bracelet or ring. Thinking back, it was kind of cruel on whichever party was not ready to move on. But mostly it was an at school popularity thing. Usually, the bracelet or ring was worn at school and left in a desk when the school day was over. Because back then when you were 13 or 14, no one wanted to go home and explain to their parents what "going steady" in junior high school meant. Who wanted that embarrassment? Being the brunt of jokes at the supper table was avoided at all cost. Or having my latest crush discussed was not #1 on my list of family topics that I wanted to sit through on ANY night of the week! Granted, in most homes back then, parents kept abreast of what was going on in their kids' lives. They generally knew who had crushes on whom. As long as it was kept in proper perspective, they let it slide. They knew the school system was very strict. Teachers were posted in all areas of the school. The students' every move was monitored. We had a very strict dress code. Holding hands was frowned upon and was not allowed.

Back when my oldest step-son was in 4th or 5th grade, he announced he was dating a girl. I said, "Dating? Where are you dating at?" But times were a changing. I would hear young mothers with grade school aged children using the SAME expression when talking about their children liking another child of the opposite sex. My mouth would just drop open. And that was 18 years ago!