Parenting Styles and Discipline: A Comparison of Past and Present
Have you heard the saying, 'give as good as you get'?
Parents in the past treated their children based on their behavior, showing respect towards respectful kids and disciplining those who acted like punks.
The emphasis was on respect and dignity, teaching children to understand the difference between right and wrong and to take responsibility for their actions. If they were punished, it was because they had done something wrong and needed to be punished for their misdeeds. Today's children, however, often lack the discipline and common sense instilled in previous generations.
Back then, children were less spoiled and more disciplined because of the guidance and strictness of their parents. They respected their elders and understood the importance of responsibility. Today's children often act foolishly, show disrespect, and lack the wisdom of their predecessors.
Parental Discipline in My Childhood
As someone who is 75 years old, my parents raised me the old-fashioned way. If I did something wrong, I would be given a punishment, such as being whipped with a belt or grounded for a week. These punishments were a way to teach me the consequences of my actions and to take responsibility.
Parents in the past disciplined their children for not listening or showing a lack of respect. They did not hesitate to impart their lessons with respect and dignity. Today, children are often not raised with the same strictness, leading to less disciplined behavior.
Childhood from a Parent's Perspective
When I was a child, my parents expected me to follow their instructions without question. If they told me to do something, I would do it without any attitude or backtalk, as I knew that the next time they told me to do something, I would do it without hesitation.
Parents in the past treated their children based on their behavior, with my brother, for example, being treated like a man because he carried the workload of a farm at the age of 14. In contrast, I was treated more leniently as a weaker child.
Teenage Discipline in the 1950s
In the 1950s, when my brother was 14, our parents treated him like a man because he carried the workload of a farm. Similarly, at 19, I was treated like a man, as I was responsible for managing a herd of dairy cows in Taunton, England. I worked from 6 am to 6 pm, six days a week, showing the discipline and responsibility required of young adults.
The parenting style of the past emphasized discipline, respect, and responsibility, something that is often lacking in today’s parenting methods. While modern parents are more focused on nurturing and emotional support, the traditional methods of instilling respect and discipline led to more disciplined and responsible children.
In conclusion, the parenting styles of the past, marked by discipline and respect, produced children who were more responsible and well-behaved. This is a lesson worth remembering as we navigate the complexities of modern parenting and strive to raise our children with the same virtues.