Life in our country has changed so dramatically in recent years. Mass shootings have become an all too common story on our evening news shows. The threat of terrorist attacks are something we are forced to think about all too often. And the hostility extremist groups in our country exhibit toward one another is frightening.

We miss the security and stability we felt as children — children who were blessed to grow up in an Italian-American home. Life was so much simpler and sweeter then. We had parents who loved us but weren’t afraid to discipline us. Our homes were filled with emotions, excitement and constant family interaction.