Can relate myself. Grey is a depressing color.
Am I the only one who finds "World's Strictest Parents" stupid? I find the parents aren't even strict, they just know how to raise kids. It's the kids that are disrespectful.
There was a time when parents disciplined their kids. I was probably the last generation to be raised with the threat of Dad taking off his belt to whip you, little kids got spanked.
If you threw a tantrum in public, or dared to talk back to your parents (let alone hit them), you were going to get your wagon fixed right then and there. If you acted up, and your parents didn't discipline you, other parents would think there was something wrong with your folks.
We didn't have the Supernanny. Parents didn't call Jojo because little Jason and Jennifer were out of control. A few swats with the belt did wonders.
So am I the only one old enough to remember these times? Parents were parents, not their kids' best friend. HUGE difference.
My parents (especially my mom) loved me. But when I got out of line, I knew what I was in for.
And I deserved it. It didn't happen often, but when it did, there was 773H to pay. But then they wouldn't have any trouble with me for a long time.