This is a sobering time to be alive. Myanmar, China, rising food prices, rising gas prices, and now, my husband informs me of a worldwide water shortage. No matter which political party you prefer, the election in November is unpredictable. Add in Iran, Russia, Libya, Syria and most of the Middle East, and there are myriad reasons to be concerned.
Growing up in Miami in the 70's and 80's, my family lived with a Depression-Era mentality. When we went out, we always ordered water to drink, could only order chicken and occasionally could share one dessert among us all. We usually didn't buy designer clothes. I remember begging my parents for the popular items (a Seiko watch and a Cabbage Patch doll, for example), and they refused. They also refused to buy me a car, unlike most of my friends at school. My sister and I drove an old station wagon that smelled like rotten eggs whenever it idled.
Looking back, the "sacrifices" we made were hardly significant. We never suffered... not even close. We never really went without at all. But my parents who could have afforded to buy many things, chose not to.
Now my husband and I have an opportunity to raise our own kids. Which "era" mentality will we choose?
In this sobering time, I have tried to educate my children about the realities of our world. They are young-- just 3, 5 and 6 -- but they know about Myanmar, China, Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the world food crisis and cancer. We read The Washington Post together and discuss current events because this is real life. I suppose you could say we're living with a Neo-Depression Era mentality.
We say no a lot. We don't buy tons of toys. We usually order water in restaurants; we're trying to go out to eat less, and we recently filled boxes with food for a local food bank. It's a lesson we're trying to teach our children as well as our own selves. I think the whole country is moving in that direction. As Philomena aptly pointed out in a recent post, America seems to be moving back to some of the values of the Depression: Saving. Postponing pleasures. Saying no. Helping others.
As we seek to embrace some of the positive elements of the Depression, it may help prepare us for difficult times ahead. Just as important, it reminds us that our blessings as Americans are both incredibly abundant and rare.
Grateful,
Lucy Pevensie (for the Pevensies, young and old)
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