<p>My grandparents did not want my dad to marry my mom because my dad was the third son and the second son wasn’t married yet. My dad was supposed to wait his turn.</p>
<p>My mom still can not get over the fact that my wife and I lived together before marriage. We have been married for almost 30 years.</p>
<p>I asked my daughter what nationality her best friend of 3 years was and she didn’t know.</p>
<p>More and more young people don’t care if some people are gay. Majority now support gay marriage. </p>
<p>First world countries no longer fight wars with other first world countries.</p>
<p>When I talk to young people, I am blown away with their analytical skills, their poise, their worldliness, and their wish to explore.</p>
<p>My grandparents played nooky nooky behind the barn the night before Grandpa left for WW1. Grandma got pregnant and wrote to Grandpa, but his mother destroyed the letter. She was sent out of state to a home for unwed mothers and it wasn’t until Uncle Arthur was 2 years old that Grandpa learned about the baby. They married, changed Arthurs birthdate and had 9 more kids.</p>
<p>My Mom married a professional Canadian hockey player and ended up divorced. My Grandparents disowned my Mom, but when she got her own apartment in town he physically hauled her home. Apparently it would have been more of a disgrace to them to have their divorced daughter living alone.</p>
<p>When I went to college my parents took away my house key. Reason: just in case I snuck home when they were out of town and brought a pot smoking boy home with me! </p>
<p>My boys…curious, well traveled and delightful!</p>
<p>My great grandparents, my grandfather’s parents, first born was born out of wedlock. My great grandparents married and had 10 kids. This born out of wedlock child was some big family secret. This event traumatized the family. My mom was affected. Sex outside of marriage was something that wasn’t done. That is what I was told growing up. :)</p>
<p>I did not learn that my great aunt, Auntie Dot, was born out of wedlock until this year. I am 56. My aunt has been dead for 20 years. I guess I am old enough now to be told. :)</p>
<p>My grandparents eloped to Elkton Maryland (which was apparently the eloping capital of the EAstern seaboard back then). My grandmother was pregnant with my mom–18 and had to drop out of HS. Grandfather was 19 and eventually dropped out of college. They had a very happy marriage.</p>
<p>My parents courted and married conventionally–lot of ups and downs; Dad died when we were kids.</p>
<p>My H and I started dating when we were 17/18, moved in together at college in early 20s, got pregnant, and got married. Actually been together for 36 years today, exactly. Very happy together.</p>
<p>D and BF are living together in the house they bought last summer, getting married this summer. We are impatiently waiting for grandkids! (D says within the year, if all goes well)–she feels like she’ll be an “old” mom if she waits any longer, because we were such comparatively “young” (clueless, really) parents.</p>
<p>I’m not sure there’s exactly progress there; our family’s always been a little off-kilter.</p>
<p>“My grandparents eloped to Elkton Maryland (which was apparently the eloping capital of the EAstern seaboard back then)”</p>
<p>So did mine! Being “Good Catholics”, though, this was considered living in sin, so boy did their families break a speed record getting them married “properly” in the Church! We didn’t know until after my grandfather passed away and Grandma let us in on the secret. No early pregnancy, though.</p>
<p>“I’m not sure there’s exactly progress there; our family’s always been a little off-kilter.” :)</p>
<p>“My grandparents eloped to Elkton Maryland (which was apparently the eloping capital of the EAstern seaboard back then). My grandmother was pregnant with my mom–18 and had to drop out of HS. Grandfather was 19 and eventually dropped out of college. They had a very happy marriage.”</p>
<p>Wth? All these out of wedlock babies in this one little thread from how long ago? Over 100 years ago?</p>
<p>One of my folks’ neighbors have disowned each of their kids as they married people their parents disapproved of–wrong race or other reasons. They take photos with JUST the “blood” and no in-laws. No surprise that there have been many divorces among their kids’. My folks did not live together, but the oldest kid was born only 10 months after the wedding. Me & my sibs are mixed about tolerance of different kinds of folks but so far we all get along fairly well.</p>
<p>I give my folks’ credit that they have done their best to get along with all our chosen loved ones and their families. It has worked out pretty well for all of us and we are all in some amazing family portraits – all the relatives and in-laws and my folks 15 grandkids.</p>
<p>Hard to know whether our society is actually “progressing” in many ways or not. Our DOH is still TALKING endlessly about “disparities” but has no power (or I suspect real interest) in making the fundamental changes to make a real difference. They still only want to have “policy change” that makes all sorts of wonderful and magical changes in our society. </p>
<p>Would sure love a world with less violence–guns, wars, etc., but am not convinced that is our future. Am hopeful because I prefer that to despair. Am thrilled that our kids are people we enjoy being around. ;)</p>
<p>Himom…progress…not perfection or anything close to perfection. </p>
<p>I told a friend of mine my kids are great. Just great, but the biggest disappointment I have is they grew up and are still human beings. I thought they were going to be something better. :)</p>
<p>100 years ago parents put together a couple based on the qualities and characteristics of the individuals. Today couples put themselves together based on qualities of the other partners performance on party drugs and the thoughts of throwing big spectacle weddings for themselves. </p>
<p>100 years ago it was understood that marriages were bonds that were meant to last and that problems were going to have to be gotten over. Today the concept of a “starter marriage” that can be walked away from is so well established that its a tv series and if someone isnt “giving you what you need” you move on. Any feelings of guilt are properly dealt with by a combination of prescribed mood stabilizers and divorce parties. </p>
<p>100 years ago your “baby momma” was your wife. Today nearly 75% of black children are born illegitimately and over 50% will grow up without a male figure in the house. The idea of marrying the woman you got pregnant seems foreign to a celebrity like Tom Brady. </p>
<p>100 years ago the way you act was supposed to be a credit to your family. Today “pimpin’” is considered a valid lifestyle. </p>
<p>100 years ago you were supposed to teach a child right from wrong. Today thats an optional unit in the School curriculum. 100 years ago, kids dated to find a girl who would be a good wife and mother, today they are looking for a bisexual into COF. 100 years ago keeping the family together was the most important thing. Today its “we did our best, the government will finishing raising you. We’ll be in Florida or at the Indian casino”.</p>
<p>I dont know how much more progress we can survive. Human society didnt develop codes of morals and responsibilities just to bum you out and provide a backdrop for the Scarlet Letter. They developed independently all over the world because it was the best mechanism to ensure survival and success.</p>
Very happy together.</p>