By John ‘Butch’ Dale
Guest Columnist

Those of you who are baby-boomers likely have fond memories of your childhood. Life was fun, and our days were filled with friends, family, and lots of freedom. Of course, there were also rules to go by from our parents and teachers.

John ‘Butch’ Dale

At times we broke some of those rules and were punished. We were taught right from wrong. We enjoyed going to school, respected our teachers, learned many things, and had fun. We had chores to do at home or on the farm. And yes, we ate all of our vegetables. At various times, we learned to be “seen and not heard.” Yes, it was a different time.

Kids today, especially those who live in urban areas, live in a different world…a sometimes frightening world. Many are raised in broken homes. Some rarely see their parents. And some kids don’t even know their father. At the other extreme, some kids are supervised and controlled 24 hours a day … all activities pre-planned … So sad.

If I had a magic wand, here are a few things I would wish for the kids of today:

…I hope your grandpa will take you fishing and tell you about the times when he was a little boy

…I hope that you can sit on grandma’s lap and let her read you a bedtime story

…I hope you can help your uncle make homemade ice cream and help your aunt bake sugar cookies

…I hope you make a special card on Valentine’s Day and give it to your teacher

…I hope you give your Mom a big hug and a kiss at least once a week and especially on Mother’s Day

…I hope you tell your Dad how much you love him and how grateful you are that he works so hard for the family

…I hope you can walk around your neighborhood and visit your friends and neighbors and not worry about your safety

…I hope you can play sports just for fun, and try your best, and not worry about winning or losing

…I hope you will turn off the TV and video games and discover the enjoyment of reading books

…I hope your parents punish you when you misbehave, and they tell you how much they love you when you do good things

…I hope you learn that you cannot buy everything you want and that saving money is a good thing

…I hope you find out that is it much more fun and satisfying to give than to receive

…I hope that you always remember to say “please” and “thank you” and “I’m sorry.”

…I hope that you learn to be honest even when no one is around to watch

…I hope you realize that a true friend will not offer you pot or drugs or cigarettes or alcohol

…I hope that you say your prayers every night and say an extra special blessing for your family and those less fortunate than you

…I hope that one year on Christmas morning, you get a new puppy or kitty of your very own

…I hope that when you look at a flower, or a bird, or a rainbow, or a beautiful sunset … that you know there is a God in Heaven and he is watching over you

Dear Lord, Bless all of the kids. Keep them safe, and let them live happy lives…Make my hopes and wishes come true!