Absoluely loved it (says another kid growing-up in the late 50's and into the 60's), and it is so very true. It got me reflecting about growing up on the farm, working with dad, and just being a kid. Thanks!

There are a great deal of messages "in there" that I have been using with my own kids (ages 6, 9, 11, and 14) over the years even though I'm an older and hopefully wiser dad (we married late and had kids later than most other parents). Of course, my wife being 7 years younger thinks I'm whacked at times. But, maybe there's others things that explain the differences: I'm from the north (WI, MN) and she's from Texas ('nough said), she's almost from a different era, I grew-up on a farm then moved to a lake area where she grew-up in the city, we are from different disciplines (I'm an engineer, she was a RN), and so on. The kids are surviving even though they can only use their Game Boys for a while like when on a road trip of over several hours or special occassions, the play station is used about two hours a month, they HAVE TO go out and play or ride thier bike or just do something, they need to explore thier world from their perspective. They have known the difference between "right and wrong" for many years; my wife and I are constantly doing "course corrections" where they can maintain course for reaching adulthood contributing as thinking, rationale beings and (hopefully) not some social misfits.

There's a good one that I've been using lately, especially with the three boys, the older ones, when I think they are going to do something "boneheaded" or just as a general caution: "Don't do anything that would bring disgrace to you mother". That usually at least gets them to thinking for a split second.

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