[chinesemedicine]

Being 21 and all (born in '84), I don't remember much of the 80s and stuff, but reading some of the descriptions really do ring true with my childhood.

I think I still might have it, but I had one of those audio record books. Yes, you heard it, audio record. It wasn't a cassette, wasn't a CD, but it was a record. If I remember correctly, it was a 45 or the smaller variety.

I also do remember telling my parents that I was going outside and I would be gone all day as long as I stayed relatively close to home (within the neighborhood) and came home before dark. As far as what I was doing, it was a lot of random games we make up and some video games. We would even stop playing games to go outside and play.

As I now look back in sadness as to how nice life for me was back then, I also realize that times have most definately changed. Living in fear of child predators and stuff have restricted outside access for kids in most areas. Also, the advent of the internet, online gaming and many more channels (I hear that there are 4 times the amount of channels now in the US than there was in 1998 or something), it's easier to interact with the computer screen than it is to round up a group of friends and play outside. Also, there is the fear of violence and childhood predators. I don't know if it's the fact that they are more apparent in the news or if the cases have increased, but it has instilled some sort of fear among some parents to become overprotective and only allow them to play in the front yard as opposed to the neighborhood.

When I have children, I wish I could raise my kids the same way I was, but then I do need to adjust with the times. There are a lot more electronic sources so that increases the amount of things to do than run outside and climb the tallest tree in the neighborhood and stuff. But I do really hope that I can instill that there is more to life than the internet and video games and it's just more beneficial to get out there and play. But I would also hope that he/she would take up kendo as well . But, I don't have any kids, nor do I know much about what it's like to take care of one so I really can't say too much until I get one myself.

Before I go, one thing I did notice in my neighborhood is how few children there are playing outside. In fact, some kids have only started playing outside in the past two years or so. Now some are riding their bikes and some minor skateboarding but it isn't anything resembling my early days. But when I first moved to this neighborhood, it was pretty much dead all day every day. It's nice to see the change though as I like a little life in the neighborhood and shows me some sort of effort to curtail America's childhood obesity epidemic.