BABY BOOMERS by Cindy Adams

Baby boomers survived pregnant moms who smoked, drank, ate canned tuna and weren't tested for diabetes.

Slept on their tummies in cribs painted with a lead base.

Had no childproof lids on medicine bottles.

Rode bikes sans helmets, hitchhiked, sat in cars minus seat belts or airbags.

Drank water from a garden hose, not a bottle.

Shared their one soft drink with friends.

Existed without PlayStation, Nintendo, Xbox, video games or 150 TV channels, DVD's, CD's PC's surround sound, cells, Internet or chat rooms.

Ate white bread, real butter and weren't overweight because they actually played outside.

Fell, got cut, broke bones all without lawsuits.

Kept doors open.

Walked into friends' houses without calling.

If they didn't make the Little League team they--if you can imagine this--learned to live with disappointment without a therapist.

And no one could reach them all day.

Also, a parent bailing them out if they broke the law? Please. Their parents actually sided with the law.

Let's hear it for progress.