Deprecated: Return type of WPForms\Logger\Records::count() should either be compatible with Countable::count(): int, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wpforms-lite/src/Logger/Records.php on line 96

Deprecated: Return type of WPForms\Logger\Records::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wpforms-lite/src/Logger/Records.php on line 40

Deprecated: Return type of WPForms\Logger\Records::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wpforms-lite/src/Logger/Records.php on line 50

Deprecated: Return type of WPForms\Logger\Records::key() should either be compatible with Iterator::key(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wpforms-lite/src/Logger/Records.php on line 62

Deprecated: Return type of WPForms\Logger\Records::valid() should either be compatible with Iterator::valid(): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wpforms-lite/src/Logger/Records.php on line 74

Deprecated: Return type of WPForms\Logger\Records::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wpforms-lite/src/Logger/Records.php on line 84

Deprecated: str_replace(): Passing null to parameter #3 ($subject) of type array|string is deprecated in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/nggallery.php on line 866

Deprecated: Return type of C_Photocrati_Settings_Manager_Base::offsetExists($key) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetExists(mixed $offset): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/non_pope/class.photocrati_settings_manager.php on line 165

Deprecated: Return type of C_Photocrati_Settings_Manager_Base::offsetGet($key) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetGet(mixed $offset): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/non_pope/class.photocrati_settings_manager.php on line 170

Deprecated: Return type of C_Photocrati_Settings_Manager_Base::offsetSet($key, $value) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetSet(mixed $offset, mixed $value): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/non_pope/class.photocrati_settings_manager.php on line 175

Deprecated: Return type of C_Photocrati_Settings_Manager_Base::offsetUnset($key) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetUnset(mixed $offset): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/non_pope/class.photocrati_settings_manager.php on line 180

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property nggLoader::$memory_limit is deprecated in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/products/photocrati_nextgen/modules/ngglegacy/nggallery.php on line 117

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property nggLoader::$translator is deprecated in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/products/photocrati_nextgen/modules/ngglegacy/nggallery.php on line 61

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property C_Router::$_request_method is deprecated in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/vendor/imagely/pope-framework/lib/class.extensibleobject.php on line 469

Deprecated: Return type of ActionScheduler_DateTime::setTimezone($timezone) should either be compatible with DateTime::setTimezone(DateTimeZone $timezone): DateTime, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wpforms-lite/vendor/woocommerce/action-scheduler/classes/ActionScheduler_DateTime.php on line 60

Deprecated: Return type of ActionScheduler_DateTime::getOffset() should either be compatible with DateTime::getOffset(): int, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wpforms-lite/vendor/woocommerce/action-scheduler/classes/ActionScheduler_DateTime.php on line 48

Deprecated: Return type of ActionScheduler_DateTime::getTimestamp() should either be compatible with DateTime::getTimestamp(): int, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wpforms-lite/vendor/woocommerce/action-scheduler/classes/ActionScheduler_DateTime.php on line 27

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property C_Routing_App::$_rewrite_patterns is deprecated in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/vendor/imagely/pope-framework/lib/class.extensibleobject.php on line 469

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property C_Routing_App::$_routing_patterns is deprecated in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/vendor/imagely/pope-framework/lib/class.extensibleobject.php on line 469

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property C_Routing_App::$_routing_patterns is deprecated in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/vendor/imagely/pope-framework/lib/class.extensibleobject.php on line 469

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property C_Routing_App::$_rewrite_patterns is deprecated in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/vendor/imagely/pope-framework/lib/class.extensibleobject.php on line 469

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property C_Routing_App::$_routing_patterns is deprecated in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/vendor/imagely/pope-framework/lib/class.extensibleobject.php on line 469

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property C_Routing_App::$_routing_patterns is deprecated in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/vendor/imagely/pope-framework/lib/class.extensibleobject.php on line 469

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property C_Routing_App::$_rewrite_patterns is deprecated in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/vendor/imagely/pope-framework/lib/class.extensibleobject.php on line 469

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property C_Routing_App::$_routing_patterns is deprecated in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/vendor/imagely/pope-framework/lib/class.extensibleobject.php on line 469

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property C_Routing_App::$_rewrite_patterns is deprecated in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/vendor/imagely/pope-framework/lib/class.extensibleobject.php on line 469

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property C_Routing_App::$_routing_patterns is deprecated in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/vendor/imagely/pope-framework/lib/class.extensibleobject.php on line 469

Deprecated: Creation of dynamic property C_Router::$_routed_app is deprecated in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/nextgen-gallery/vendor/imagely/pope-framework/lib/class.extensibleobject.php on line 469

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wpforms-lite/src/Logger/Records.php:13) in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wpforms-lite/src/Logger/Records.php:13) in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wpforms-lite/src/Logger/Records.php:13) in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wpforms-lite/src/Logger/Records.php:13) in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wpforms-lite/src/Logger/Records.php:13) in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wpforms-lite/src/Logger/Records.php:13) in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wpforms-lite/src/Logger/Records.php:13) in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-content/plugins/wpforms-lite/src/Logger/Records.php:13) in /home3/lloydmarcus/public_html/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-server.php on line 1831
{"id":5633,"date":"2017-12-26T14:22:01","date_gmt":"2017-12-26T19:22:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lloydmarcus.com\/?p=5633"},"modified":"2017-12-26T14:22:01","modified_gmt":"2017-12-26T19:22:01","slug":"old-school-parenting-christmastime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lloydmarcus.com\/?p=5633","title":{"rendered":"Old School Parenting at Christmastime"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Like millions of lower to middle income American families back in the day, my parents did an awesome job at Christmastime. With little money, they always found a way to give their kids happy Christmases. As the 9 year old eldest, I babysat my 4 siblings. I knew mom and dad did not have a lot of money. And yet, I never thought we were poor or felt shortchanged at Christmas. I don’t remember my 3 brothers and sister ever feeling shortchanged at Christmas. How awesome is that? Given their financial challenges, my parents had to be magicians to pull off that trick. Somehow, they performed their magic every year. I kind of took it for granted. Looking back, all I can say is, “Wow!”<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/div>\n
The arrival of the Montgomery Wards catalog was a major exciting event. Each of us kids circled the toys we wanted for Christmas.<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
I remember, my Roy Roger’s pistol and holster. On Christmas day, I left my pistol outside for a moment. When I came back, it was gone. Mom was extremely annoyed at me.<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
I felt my Aunt Bummie and her 5 sons living on welfare were poor. Mom, dad, we 5 kids, Aunt Bummie and her 5 boys sat around a table, feasting on a mountain of fried chicken necks and backs. They were dirt cheap to buy. We laughed, joked and had a wonderful time. God has blessed me to travel the world, enjoying numerous five star dining experiences. I still love fried chicken necks and backs.<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
One Christmas when we were still living in the Baltimore government housing project, I found a used bicycle hidden deep in the closet. I knew the bike was my Christmas present. I was elated because I knew mom and dad could not afford it. Mom was disappointed that I saw the bike. I told her I was a big boy and wanted to help her and dad play Santa; setting up the gifts Christmas eve for my younger siblings. She said, “Okay”.<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
Then there was the Christmas we could have died. In 1952, the restriction of blacks being allowed to take the test to become Baltimore City firefighters ended. Dad became a firefighter. We moved out of the projects. My parents purchased a home in a small black suburban community; Pumphrey, Maryland. It was Christmas eve. Dad had to work the night shift at the fire house. Mom decided to paint a room with oil based paint. Dad came home 7am Christmas morning to find us all passed out. He rescued us by carrying us to the front porch. We recovered and opened presents.<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
My wife Mary said her parents were pretty awesome as well. They always found a way to make room and feed relatives in need. Mary’s immediate family consisted of her parents and 3 siblings. And yet, Mary recalls washing dishes for as many as 11 people living in their home. She has wonderful childhood Christmas memories. Although, she has been scared for life regarding washing dishes. Mary cooks and I wash the dishes. Our kitchen remodel will include a dishwasher.<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
Old school American parents were awesome. They were responsible early in their adulthood, doing whatever needed to be done. My baby-boomer generation seems to be pretty spoiled and self focused.<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
At 29 years old, my Dad fathered his 5 kids and tried to be a stand-in father\/role model for my Aunt Bummie’s five boys. They loved my dad and envied me for having him.<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
I’m getting choked up.<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
Mom passed away 20 years ago. Our family’s 2017 annual Christmas Eve gathering was wonderful. Everyone shared a spirit of making merry. Last year, Dad declared me the new patriarch of the family. At this year’s gathering, I called for a round of applause for my late mom and 89 year old dad, thanking them for all the great Christmases.<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
I pray y’all had a Merry Christmas. Have a Happy and Blessed New Year!<\/span><\/div>\n
 <\/div>\n
Lloyd Marcus, The Unhyphenated American<\/span><\/div>\n
Help Lloyd spread the Truth: http:\/\/bit.ly\/2kZqmUk<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n
http:\/\/LloydMarcus.com<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Like millions of lower to middle income American families back in the day, my parents did an awesome job at Christmastime. With little money, they always found a way to give their kids happy Christmases. As the 9 year old…<\/p>\n