Today’s blog post was written by Ann Scapini Giluso, a graduate of St. Christopher School and Presentation High School in San José. While some may bristle at what she wrote, I can absolutely relate. We grew up in a different time, a different generation, a different world. Were we better off then than now? That’s for you to decide.

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I grew up in San Jose, California. Never once did I question my parents income. It was never discussed. We didn’t eat a lot of fast food because it was considered a treat, not a food group. We drank Kool-Aid made from water, that came from our kitchen sink, and real sugar. We ate bologna sandwiches, or even tuna (which was in a can not a pouch), PB&J, grilled cheese, and hot dogs, but mostly we enjoyed homemade meals consisting of meat, potatoes, and vegetables.

We grew up during a time when we mowed lawns, pulled weeds, babysat, and helped neighbors with other chores to be able to earn our own money. By no means were we given everything we wanted.

We went outside a lot to play, ride bikes, run with friends, play hide and seek, or go swimming. We rarely just sat inside. We drank water from the garden hose outside. Bottled water was unheard of. If we had a Coke, it was in a glass bottle, and we didn’t break the bottle when finished. We saved it and cashed it in at the store for a refund.

We watched TV shows like Leave It To Beaver, Gilligan’s Island, Happy Days, Bewitched, The Brady Bunch, Looney Tunes, The Flintstones, The Jetsons, Sanford and Son, The Wonderful World of Disney, McHales Navy, Andy Griffith, and I Love Lucy.  Mom and Dad decided everything we watched or didn’t watch. After school, we came home and did homework and chores, before going outside or having friends over. We would ride our bikes for hours. We had to tell our parents where we were going, who we were going with, and we had to be home when the street lights came on!

We learned from our parents instead of disrespecting them, and never treated them as if they knew absolutely nothing. What they said was law, and we did not question it — and we had better know it!

We watched what we said around our elders because we knew if we disrespected any grown-up we would get our behinds whipped. It wasn’t called abuse. It was called discipline! We held doors open for people, carried groceries, and gave up our seat for an older person without being asked. We didn’t hear curse words on the radio, in songs, or on television, and if I cursed and got caught, I had a bar of soap stuck in my mouth. 

“Please.” “Thank you.” “Yes, please.” “No, thank you. “Yes, ma’am. “No, ma’am.” “Yes, sir.” And “No, sir.” These were all part of our daily vocabulary!

It seems that the world we live in today is just so full of deception, division, hate, and disrespect for others. I will never forget where I came from and only wish that children these days had half the chance at the fun and respect for real life we grew up with! And we were never bored!