I grew up in the late 1960s-early 1970s. Two working class parents who worked shifts (Mom got home around 3pm every day). I joined sports teams in high school. Prior to that, I was not athletic in the least. I spent summers reading under a tree in our backyard, and occasionally running around our subdivision with a couple of other kids who were roughly my age.

My parents didn't have time or interest for my siblings and I to join "travel teams" if there had been such a thing. My Mom didn't take part in the PTA, unlike these days where I think parents in my wealthy educated city are over-involved. Her attitude was: she parents, teachers teach. She did one time go to the high school to find out why I hadn't been nominated to the honor society despite my grades; she was sitting in the office when they announced over the PA system that I'd just won the school spelling bee.

I walked to my grade school until it burned down. My high school was close enough to ride my bike to every day in the summer to play tennis. My parents did attend some of my high school basketball and volleyball games, and summer softball games in a league I was in.

Much simpler times.