What Did You Do as a Child that you Won't Let Your Kids Do?

I was baking with my daughter today, when I realized that one of my favorite things to do as a kid when I would bake with my mother was 'lick the bowl' -- something I won't let my daughter do out of fear of raw eggs making her ill. I also won't let her ride her bike without a helmet. But I never, ever wore a helmet as a child in the 80's!

Times have changed and now there are so many more things on our "don't allow" lists! What are some of the things you did as a kid that you'd never let your kids do?

Erin

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Permalink Reply by Tammy DePew Smith on May 10, 2010 at 6:35am

Wow - there are so many things. I won't allow my son to go outside and play without me, or one of my older children, there to keep an eye on him. I won't allow them to ride in the back of a pickup truck (but I rode in the back of my dad's all the time). Also, no licking of the cookie, or cake batter bowl. :) I make sure they wash their hands, or use hand sanitizer every time we get back from a store. Good discussion. :)

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Permalink Reply by Gina on May 10, 2010 at 9:40am

The girls aren't allowed to play in the front yard if one of us aren't out there with us.
They can't go to friends houses who's parents I don't know.
Can't walk to school alone.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa Selligman on May 10, 2010 at 11:11am

I'm not big on nudity, but honestly neither was my mom. I'm trying to loosen up & let my kids have a little independence. it would be easier if I could find some boys my sons age for him to hang with! because really, the world is not anymore dangerous (well, except that there are way more cars!)

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Permalink Reply by Erin Boudreau on May 10, 2010 at 11:20am

Wow! Love all of your responses (and thank you Elizabeth for teaching us how to coddle eggs--glad I haven't let my daughter lick the bowl!).

You all have made me think about even more freedoms I had: roaming everywhere, walking home alone from school in 1st grade, going to any classmate's house (even for sleepovers) without my parents meeting anyone from the house, eating whatever snacks were in the house, whenever.

I wonder what's changed. My mother insists there wasn't as much crime then, and our metro area really has grown in the last couple of decades. But maybe it's all awareness generated by the media? I don't know. All I know is that there is a lot I won't let my daughter do that I did. In thinking about it, I nearly got into trouble on a couple of occasions!

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Polk on May 10, 2010 at 11:46am

Listen to music with adult lyrics and watch horror movies. When I hear some of the songs that I used to listen to on the radio as a kid, I won't let my kid listen to them now--20+ years later. The same is true of many movies. I can't believe my parents allowed me and my younger sister to listen to or watch this stuff! Where was the research on the affects of adult content on underage children?

Anyway, we closely monitor what our daughter listens to and watches. Now that she's 10, she's allowed to watch some PG-13 movies, but only with us holding the remote so we can send her out of the room if there are scenes that we aren't comfortable with her seeing.

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Permalink Reply by Candice Aiston on May 10, 2010 at 11:49am

I always let my kids lick the bowl. :/ The only thing I can really think of is helmets. I never had one as a kid, and would have died of embarrassment if my mom made me wear one at age 11, my oldest daughter's age, but she has to wear one. (It's the law here.)

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Permalink Reply by Kelly on May 10, 2010 at 12:09pm

I can relate. My parents had no rules, yet I have a ton of them. There are so many things my parents let me do that I won't dream of letting my kids do. Let's see, walk home alone, stay out late at night, go to parties in the boonies with friends, etc....

Jennifer Gilbart said:

Uh, everything! Once a wild child, today an overprotective mom. I feel like such a hypocrite but I can't seem to stop telling them "no!"

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Permalink Reply by sandysfancy on May 10, 2010 at 12:24pm

Such a different time and mindset. I came from a large family and was born in late 1950s.
No kidding when I say I ironed my dads handkerchiefs when I was about 8 or 9. I would not dare let a child near an iron now.
We ran behind the DDT mosquito spray trucks as we loved the pretty smoke.
We basically would leave to play at sunrise sometimes and come home at dusk. Had a large acreage where we would build tree houses, forts and have a blast.
I feel so sorry for children now. Everything completely structured it seems. Something to be said of laying on your back and making pictures out of clouds for hours on end. Mudpies, stilts, tops, jacks, china berry fights, lightning bugs, Red rover, Dodge Ball, Freeze Tag.
I know. I am old. Much better than the alternative and I had a blast as a kid. Sandy
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my kids grew up in the 1980s but I definitely watched and monitored their music and nothing bad or horror in our home. Later they did thank me for it.
I remember once our son was about 12 and someone gave him a Guns and Roses tape. He enjoyed it for about 10 minutes till out the door it went.
I was a parent and never concerned about being their friend. Now they are my friend.

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Permalink Reply by nicole kelly on May 10, 2010 at 12:31pm

When I was younger, I appeared to be a lot older than I was and I dated older guys. I was very street smart when I was younger so I wasn't easily taken advantage of, but I would never let my daughter repeat my mistakes!!

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Permalink Reply by Melanie Blanton on May 10, 2010 at 1:26pm

Walk around the block with friends and no adult. - My children are never out of my sight.

Play outside all day long without adult supervision. - Again, my children are never out of my sight.

Walk around a store alone. - You get the idea.. I never let my children out of my sight. LOL!

I have to meet the parents of my children's friends before I allow them to spend the night.

I'm sure there are LOTS more things but my brain isn't functioning correctly today.

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Permalink Reply by Catherine Haenze on May 10, 2010 at 2:40pm

We use to play "Mumbly Peg." You start by taking a pocket knife, putting the point on your "pointer" finger and letting the knife drop between your big toe and the next one. Then you work your way "around the world" by going to back of hand, wrist, elbow etc. The wonder is we were quick enough on our feet that no one I know was ever hurt. Chased fireflies long after dark. Went barefoot everywhere...never once thinking about the dirt and other grosser things on the ground. What a blast. Sat on the back steps and had watermelon seeds spitting contest. But I think the one my grandkids have missed the most by not doing is having the time to lay down on the grass watching the clouds for hours, and naming the more interesting ones.

Does texting really take the place of games born from boredom?