Product of a Village

 I'm a product of a village, I must say,
And I'm grateful for that to this very day.
My mom passed too soon, that part I don't boast,
But even with that tragedy I had more than most.
My family stepped in, well actually they were always there,
But the responsibility of raising kids, my grandmother and aunts took on to help my dad bare.
That house that I love oh so much was definitely filled to capacity,
But we somehow made it work, I sit back and reminisce laughingly.
Grandmother, dad, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins galore,
One thing I can say that house was never a bore.
It was loving and fun, I remember the family night parties with music and games,
Sadly nowadays  families aren't the same.
A lot of families drift apart and each person on their own,
Moms raising kids by themselves because their dads are just gone.
Parents feuding with the grandparents so the grandchild is unknown,
Uncles and aunts have their own families so they focus on their home.
My childhood was great and a lot safer than today,
I remember getting to ride my bike to the park, now you have to be extra alert to take your child outside to play.
Schools, movies, even churches of all places are victims of crime,
I sit and pray for a better time.
A time when family gatherings were frequent, good, clean fun,
Our generation versus today's generation, we clearly won!
Yes Generation Z has the technology but that wasn't a need,
We had that outdoor adventure, the real fun, so yes we supersede.
Kids were raised not bullet grazed.
We had respect and taught a child's place not disobedient and surely not all in your face.
We didn't talk back and if you yelled our name in the room we would run,
There was no need to have to say, "You better not let me get to one!"
I only wish my son could be so lucky but I'm doing my best to imitate,
But I know my 80's and 90's babies can relate.
I was raised old school and that's something I'm extremely proud,
I'm a product of a big, loving village!!! Yes I'm screaming it loud!