I have realized that there was some truth to the fact that life was gentler and easier when I was a young child. One thing I miss more than anything is manners in children and respect for others, especially adults. In this current age, children call everyone by their first name and seem not to have been taught the simple act of saying please and thank you.
As a child I had to call everyone Mr. or Mrs. or Aunt and Uncle, etc... If a relative was quite a bit older than I was they were Aunt and Uncle. I was almost an adult before I found that many aunts and uncles were either cousins or just very close friends of the family. I never outgrew that respect for them. To this day they are still given that moniker when I talk about them.
I never called a teacher by their first name and I knew better than to talk back to any adult. The consequences at home were a strong deterent to such behavior and should a child be rude, you could bet the parent knew all about it before they ever got home.
What is extremely curious is that it all happened in an age without emails and cell phones. The telephone was the only communication device and it was put to good use for any wayward child. We knew it and we knew better than to get uppity unless we really wanted a spanking or grounded.

Grounding was harsh back then since we didn't have tvs,computers or handheld games to entertain us and when we were told it was for a week, it was for a week, period. One didn't get off for a party or game or even a planned family outing. There were extra chores or sitting in our room reading a real book. No phone calls to friends, no one could come over. Did it hurt us and ruin our lives? I for one think it did not and the lesson of learning to be respectful didn't hurt as I grew and began working.
I wish that children today could learn some of those lessons. Maybe some day adults will decide to be leaders once again. It could happen.