I know, I know, "It's a wonder we all survived"

Picture this.  You are at a family party.  As you are strapping your little newborn extra securely in their 5 point harness infant carrier/travel system with the cute pattern that you so painstakingly chose at the local Babies'R'Us, an older relative starts to say how unnecessary those pesky (albeit safe) car seats are. Cue the stories about the good old days. 

The days when we didn't even have car seats.  At the age of 2, you just got strapped into the passenger seat of the Oldsmobile Cutlass and crossed your fingers.

Because that is safe way to travel.

The days when we didn't even need to sleep in cribs.  Babies just slept in drawers.

Photo from www.framework.latimes.com

So comfy...and super duper safe.

The days when you didn't have to watch your kids while they played outside.  They were completely unsupervised and they all survived.  There was no need to worry about child predators.  Apparently there was also no need to worry about them getting hurt and needing adult assistance.  Kids just made a tourniquet out of leaves and twigs and continued with their game of "cops and robbers", with fake metal guns that looked extremely realistic.  And all of that play didn't mean that kids would turn out to be violent adults.

 

Or kids could just play jacks (or craps for that matter) on the side of the street while a 7 year old looked after the toddlers.  Man, parents had it made back then.

So isn't it a wonder that kids survived?  I am sure they made it just by the skin of their teeth. 

I bet those days were great.  I really do.  Life was simple.  Everyone worked.  Everyone was just barely getting by.  Kids ate what they were served and they didn't complain.  Kids were grateful for what little they had and didn't need the newest, hottest toy.

But I know that I am grateful for how far society has come since then.  Call me crazy but I enjoy those  "luxuries", such as a safe car seat and an actual crib for my baby. 

Although it would be nice if it was still deemed acceptable for my 7 yr old and almost 4 yr old to play outside all day while also watching their 17 month old sister.  Oh well.  You win some, you lose some.