Anonymous wrote:Older does not equal wiser in your case, OP.

Every generation may have its ridiculous parenting extremes.
But as a research scientist and wife of a doctor, I assure you that sunscreen and avoiding environmental toxins will help our children live longer and healthier.

The key is starting young - that is when damage is most dangerous because it progresses throughout your life.

You rock on with your bad habits - you're already doomed anyway.

I can not totally agree. They weren't dropping like flies from skin cancer in the old days, and we aren't sure about the long term effects of sunscreen. Also, the good old hip fracture can take out any old lady who did not get a good dose of Vitamin D, calcium, exercise, and sunshine as a child. After 20, you can't add bone, so please max out before 20. You don't need to roast, but you do have to get out there, something our kids are doing lees often.

Yeah..and in prehistoric times kids were prey. Boy, those were the good old days when you just assumed half of your offspring would get eaten by a predator.

Anonymous wrote:Older does not equal wiser in your case, OP.

Every generation may have its ridiculous parenting extremes.
But as a research scientist and wife of a doctor, I assure you that sunscreen and avoiding environmental toxins will help our children live longer and healthier.

The key is starting young - that is when damage is most dangerous because it progresses throughout your life.

You rock on with your bad habits - you're already doomed anyway.

So much for the idea that this forum is "nicer" than some of the other fora....

Well, I guess back in the stone ages you all didn't have to worry about genetically modified food. Now that it's here, you have the luxury of saying that you've lived a healthy life whild NOT having to buy organic food because that's mostly what was sold...wish our kids had that option to eat organic food without paying a premium for it.

Remember those summers hanging out at the beach and comparing peeling skin?

Darn it - I have skin cancer & wrinkles now!

OP here. I don't have bad habits that are harmful according to current thinking. No body knew about Mercury or DDT back then. Get it?? You could be doomed to be hit by a bus while your chatting away not paying attention on that phone attached to your head.
One of the secrets of a long life is to have a sense of humor. Some of you should try it.
Also, I'm guessing some of you party poopers are younger than 50. So bye for now, and go play with the youngsters.

I could probably be OPs daughter but I get her point (no offense OP).

I grew up with two parents who struggled to make ends meat and both worked full time. We were in day care most of the day and at night when my mom had to study we ate Mc Donalds or TV dinners with the TV ON- shocker. We would play with each other or watch TV and movies so my mom could study and work while my dad was out of town or working late.

No organic food, TV did not rot my eyes, and I am so happy with the person I am today eventhough my parents did not raise as I am sure most of DCUM would think is appropriate.

OP, you and PPs lauding "running through mosquito spray" are idiots if you think that these exposures don't increase your (and your children's) risks for cancer, allergies/asthma, birth defects, austism, and more.

When I look at the research on increasing rates of all the the above, better diagnoses are just one part of the equation. There's definitely some environmental issues causing the explosion of problems the current generation of young people (and older people) are enduring.

I hope that you don't have any ill effects from the foolish exposures you had. People in the 50's had the worst notion that "science knows best" when it rarely does.

Anonymous wrote:Older does not equal wiser in your case, OP.

Every generation may have its ridiculous parenting extremes.
But as a research scientist and wife of a doctor, I assure you that sunscreen and avoiding environmental toxins will help our children live longer and healthier.

The key is starting young - that is when damage is most dangerous because it progresses throughout your life.

You rock on with your bad habits - you're already doomed anyway.

I agree with this. I think that the environmental toxins that our generation and our children's generation are exposed to will have any number of ill effects.

Just because you are doing ok at 50 doesn't mean these things will never have any impact.

You can thank all the psycho pedophiles for why kids don't just run outside and play today.

Older does not equal wiser in your case, OP.

Every generation may have its ridiculous parenting extremes.
But as a research scientist and wife of a doctor, I assure you that sunscreen and avoiding environmental toxins will help our children live longer and healthier.

The key is starting young - that is when damage is most dangerous because it progresses throughout your life.

You rock on with your bad habits - you're already doomed anyway.

I remember how kids played on rooftops in Brooklyn. That said, dh's great uncle died after he fell from one of those roof tops. He was 7 and his siblings witnessed it.

Totally agree with you OP!

I remember when I was a kid, we used to chase the mosquito truck down the road and play in the mist. There are people in DC bitching about mosquito control. I guess they missed the memo concerning the dangers of mosquito bites.

Organic? I grew up working every summer on my grandparents' (both sets) farms. Trust me when I say, "organic" is not always a good thing. We fed the "organic" (i.e. not treated) stuff to the animals.

Play dates? Are you serious? My kids just went outside and played. They were outside all day during the summer and knew to come home when the streetlights came on. They fished, swam in the lake, went to the pool, went to the gas station and got icees, climbed trees, played on real playgrounds (not the silly play structures designed to eliminate any risk). They rode bikes and skateboards. They played backyard tackle (*gasp) football.

And when they were thirsty....they drank from the closest water hose.

Were there injuries? Hell yes! Thankfully, none all that serious. But plenty of stitches and broken bones. It was just part of growing up without a helicopter parent micromanaging your schedule and your every movement.

Honestly, I don't get why you are cackling, OP, as if you certainly dodged some bullet. I live on a block with about 20 houses. 25% of the women on this street -- all in their 50s -- are in various stages of breast cancer treatment / surviorship.

Cancer doesn't drop out of the sky on a Monday and you are diagnosed that Wednesday. It likely takes a lifetime of exposure to environmental assaults (that probably turn "on" the problem at the cellular level). Hopefully you will be the lucky one who played with mercury and smoked and drank dioxin milk all her life and escapes The Diagnosis.

S/O from another thread about furniture, and all the other toxic concerns people have on DCUM.

Remember the joy of playing with Mercury after a themometer broke? Those little slippery balls of liquid silver just sliding around in your hand? And we're still alive. I remember a few years ago a school in DC was closed for weeks because of some miniscule amount of merury was detected somewhere. Sorry, just geezing today...