Then I got to thinking what else I did as a kid that kids don't do anymore. Like dressing up for church. My daughter came out in a tie dyed shirt and sweatpants this morning and seemed very confused when I told her she needed to change. "Why daddy?" Because we dress up when we go to church. I then followed with the "I'm now an adult person" lingo with "when I was a kid, I wore a tie every Sunday" (because I actually DID!). Even ADULTS don't do that anymore. Flip flops, sweat pants, and jeans seem to be the dress de jour. While I don't wear a tie anymore, I still wear a polo, khakis, and leather shoes. Just can't seem to dress down for church.
When I was a kid, I also called my parents' friends by "Mr. Cornett" and not "Mr. David" or "David". I STILL call my parents' friends by their last name, and I am almost 40! It is just a sign of respect for me (or perhaps I still view myself as a middle schooler since I have been in middle school for over 15 years now!). I used "sir" and "ma'am" and still do. Again, a sign of respect. I try to have my kids do that, as well.
Then I got to thinking of what I had that my kids will never have... a rotary phone. Rabbit ear antennas. Only 4 available channels to watch. Stick shifts in cars. Not being able to contact your friend every minute of the day through the massive social media and texting that is available (wait, people use their cell phones to CALL each other??? Weird) The phone cord that would get all tangled so you had to hold it up by the cord and let it spin out of control to untangle.
I could go on for hours.
All of this, because of "thank you" notes.
I guess my big "thank you" should go to my parents for instilling in me the values and traits that I am trying to pass down to my kids. And while they will never play "kick the can" or "flashlight tag" like we used to, I think they will end up with the same wonderful memories of childhood that I have.
