Before the internet.

What did your parents do to keep from getting bored ?

I asked my 27 brothers and sisters. They didn't know either.
 

On a serious note, mine were too busy working to pay the bills to get bored. I remember us getting our first television. Three channels only and we only watched at night. After the news went off the television did too. In the summer we would play all day outside only coming in when called for dinner at noon and then back outside until we were called for supper. Of course we were expected to complete all our chores before going outside. Remember this was the South with meals being called breakfast, dinner and supper. We also were expected to help in the garden and then help can or freeze whatever mama was preparing for fall and winter meals. We were never bored and probably never heard the term back then. I remember we had a lot of fun.
 
On a serious note, mine were too busy working to pay the bills to get bored. I remember us getting our first television. Three channels only and we only watched at night. After the news went off the television did too. In the summer we would play all day outside only coming in when called for dinner at noon and then back outside until we were called for supper. Of course we were expected to complete all our chores before going outside. Remember this was the South with meals being called breakfast, dinner and supper. We also were expected to help in the garden and then help can or freeze whatever mama was preparing for fall and winter meals. We were never bored and probably never heard the term back then. I remember we had a lot of fun.

My childhood was almost exactly the same, except we called it breakfast, lunch and supper. I don't remember being bored, either. We didn't dare tell our mom we were bored, or she would "find something for us to do," meaning more chores. Same thing would happen if we "got underfoot," meaning got in her way when she was trying to do her work.
 
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In those days, life was much more centralized, neighbors were relied on for support and comradery. You knew your neighbors and, for the most part, accepted them for their strengths and weaknesses, sometimes from their kids unintentional indiscretions, but their kids actually played together face to face. The internet has destroyed most of that. People get the same social gratification through interaction with virtual strangers. I only know my neighbors through a wave when leaving the house and can find my virtually perfect neighbor without having to deal with bad breath and body odors... :nose-pick:
 
What did your parents do to keep from getting bored ?

I asked my 27 brothers and sisters. They didn't know either.

Well, my parents weren't doing what your parents where, there is just me and my brother, 8 years apart in age.

My Mother likely never owned a touch-tone phone, much less experience the internet; she passed in 1975. My Dad was blind, and was on the internet in the 1980s, perusing the bulletin boards, the predecessor to modern discussion boards and social media.
 
since the topic is 'parents' and not 'kids' I dont know what they considered bored. they had work, relatives and friends
 
They read and listened to the radio, when I was 19 they bought a TV, black and white and remotes had not been invented yet.

A trip to Jones Beach was always good on a summer weekend.

Our 1940 refrigerator would not keep ice cream frozen, so a run to get some ice cream was always welcome.
 


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