2
a u g u s t 2 0 1 9
w w w . C L I N T O N T W P N E W S L E T T E R . c o m
Shirley
(Sherry)
Havens
CRS, GRI,
SRES
®
Sales
Associate
Questions About Real Estate?
Call
Sherry,
Your
Clinton Township
Specialist &
Neighbor –
Because the
Right Realtor
Really Makes
the Difference.!
Over 30 Years Serving Hunterdon, Somerset,
Warren and Morris Counties
cell: 908.507.4927
office: 908.735.8080
shirleyhavens@gmail.com
sherryhavens.com
SHADES | MOTORIZED SHADES | BLINDS | DRAPES | PLANTATION SHUTTERS
You Deserve Them!
908.236.2688
14 Lebanon Plaza
n
www.WindowExpressionsNJ.net
That's just one of many threats I made to my son and daughter when
they were little guys. Discipline in the old days fell short of today's
mild admonitions to the current generation of offspring. (I remember
in those days EVERYONE didn't get a sticker or trophy for just trying!)
Here are a few more parental sayings from the 50's that didn't always
attain the desired goal but, nevertheless, were successful much of the
time in our house.
"Why should we pay for you to play ball when you can go to La
Grande Park and play for free?" Unsupervised, good healthy fun and
no awards made sports so simple.
"Don't worry if she fails math. She's just going to be a Mom anyway".
This is one I actually never uttered. I was a feminist even way back
then. My daughter passed math and ended up with a long career in
teaching. However, the saying is legitimate and many parents were guilty
of suggesting their female children were only destined for the kitchen.
"You have two choices for dinner. Take it or leave it". Admittedly,
I didn't force broccoli or lima beans or beets but, for the most part,
everyone at our table ate what was there. Oh yes, they could also be
excused from my version of chipped-beef-on-toast. Even I wasn't a real
fan of that concoction, but it was cheap when the wallet was close to
empty.
"It's Steve's turn to hang out the window in the back seat of our old
Buick". After all, we had no AC. No seat-belts either.
"I'll give you something to cry about". Did I actually follow through
on that one?
"Of course you can eat it. The floor isn't dirty." Well, it probably wouldn't
have Swiffered pristine, but we couldn't afford to waste two slices of a
good apple. I think the germs that were picked up from the kitchen floor
invigorated their immune systems. For that matter, this is true; when
I was a little girl, if one of my friends had chicken pox, neighborhood
mothers used to DELIBERATELY expose their kids at a chicken pox
party at that kid's house. The theory was that we would all get chicken
pox anyway, so why not sooner rather than later?
"Go play in the park. Just be home when it gets dark". There were no
fears of kidnappers or child molesters. Unless my kids were bleeding
profusely they spent all day unsupervised, picking up a PB&J sandwich
for lunch at one of our houses.
"Tie a string to that loose tooth and tie the other end to the door knob
and then I'll slam the door shut". Bills for orthodontia were high enough.
"Children should be seen and not heard" – unless it was Steve in a play
or debate or Sally at the piano or in the girls' chorus. But kids knew
their place in the 50's. Not so anymore. I've seen way too many temper
tantrums in restaurants.
You're probably up to here with my laments of the good old days. But,
nostalgically, they are sincere. The world was a better place.
Locally Owned and Operated by Phil & Diane Koury
185 Center St. Clinton | 908.735.4499
