Unusual Channel
By Ma. Renette B. Uy

How did we survive our childhood?

If you were a kid in the 50s, 60s, 70s or even early 80s… how did you survive your childhood?

When we were growing up we never wore seatbelts in the car, cars didn't have airbags. Riding on the back of a pick up truck was an adventure that we still remember! Our cribs were painted with bright colors (paint which was full of lead). We didn't have childproof medicine bottles, nor did our parents ever childproof our house. When we rode our bikes we never wore a helmet. We would drink water from the faucet or from a hose in the backyard (not bottled water). We didn't have cell phones, so our parents were never able to reach us (awesome). We would get scrapes, bruises, break our bones, lose teeth, but we would never sue for these accidents. We would eat cake, bread and butter, drink sugary drinks, and we weren't overweight because we were always outside playing. Four of us would share a drink, we would all drink from the same bottle and that wasn't gross nor would anyone get sick. We didn't have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X boxes, video games, cable TV with over 100 channels, VCRs, surround sound, cellular phones , computers , online chatrooms, DVDs, etc., instead we would have tons of FRIENDS! Some of us weren't as bright as others but when one would get left back that was no big deal. They would not get taken to a psychologist, nor did they ever suffer from dyslexia, hyperactivity, ADHD, ADD, etc, they would simply repeat the grade until they passed.

We had freedom, mishaps, successes, responsibilities, and we would learn to deal with them. The question is... How did we survive? And, above all, how did we become the GREAT people that we are today? Simple…we were resourceful and creative!

Are you from one of these generations? The best music ever was during the 70s and 80s generations. When kids of today thought that they just heard a new song playing on the radio or being sung by their favorite band become excited because it's a great song with nice lyrics, guess again? It's a revival song of the 80s! These days you see teenagers wear bootleg pants, tank tops, bangles, anklets and chokers, etc. It was worn during the 80s too.

Well, I am of the 80s generation and I am so proud of it. We survived without cellular phones, in particular, text. There were no other way but the telephone which is called these days as the landline to communicate with friends and relatives. But we survived pretty well. There were no internet surfing to do research work for our thesis but there was the library where we get to meet new friends too and it was the greatest happening already. Not much for advance technology then but everything turned out well. It is not to say that we don't need technology now. It pretty much helped to make things faster and easier but sometimes we have to admit that we lack resourcefulness and our creativity is not challenged anymore as much compared to before.

So, for people who were born during these generations, don't feel old. Feel proud instead! We made things possible then when we thought technology is too far ahead to happen.

“Whatever you are, be a good one.”