As I monitored my child’s whereabouts through a GPS app while simultaneously messaging my other child, I couldn’t help but reflect on how parenting has transformed since my own childhood. With technology designed to keep our teens safe, from speed alerts to advanced car seat designs that rival rocket science, today’s parenting is infinitely more secure.
It’s almost amusing to think about how we survived our formative years, considering the carefree attitudes that prevailed. From drinking from garden hoses to playing outside unsupervised, we faced our share of risks, but nothing compares to the alarming practices of yesteryear: like smoking and consuming alcohol during pregnancy.
I remember vividly my friend’s mother, who would take long drags from her cigarette while instructing us to play outside. Back then, no one batted an eye at a pregnant woman sipping a beer or two. Nowadays, it’s hard to believe that was the norm. Just recently, I ordered a glass of wine right before giving birth, and the waitress felt it necessary to lecture me about the risks. “My mom did it, too!” I thought.
Riding in the “wayback” of station wagons was an adventure we cherished. My brothers and I would wave at drivers behind us, blissfully unaware of the dangers. As I shuttle my children around in an SUV equipped with airbags and advanced safety features, I often find myself grateful we didn’t encounter a serious accident during those carefree rides.
Car seats and seatbelts? They were practically non-existent. Babies often sat on their mothers’ laps in the front seat, and kids rolled around freely in the back, completely unrestrained. Can you imagine witnessing that today? The thought alone is shocking.
And don’t get me started on secondhand smoke. My father was a chain smoker, puffing away in our living room while we played. The concept of secondhand smoke being harmful simply wasn’t on anyone’s radar back then.
Then there were the days of indulging in raw cookie dough without a second thought. Sure, I might still sneak a bite now and then, but I do it with a hint of rebellion against the warnings of salmonella.
We were the original latchkey kids, left alone for hours with sharp objects like knives and scissors. We would roam outside on our bikes without anyone knowing our whereabouts. It’s a wonder we didn’t come home with more than just scraped knees.
Sitting in the back of a moving pickup truck was common practice, a reckless choice that makes me question my parents’ judgment now. Helmets? Not a chance. We zoomed down streets on our bikes and slid down snowy hills without any head protection whatsoever. Looking back, I shudder at how many times I fell and hit my head.
And cribs? They were essentially death traps. My younger siblings would climb in and out, with one even getting his head stuck between the rails. Our cribs were filled with blankets and pillows that we now know pose significant risks to infants.
While our parents often claim we’re raising an overly protected generation, I can’t help but think that just because we survived those risky practices doesn’t mean we emerged unscathed. I fully expect my children to hold me accountable for my own parenting missteps in twenty years, and I hope they will have figured out how to make cookie dough safe for everyone.
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Summary
Parenting has evolved significantly from our childhoods, with practices that were once commonplace now deemed unsafe or unacceptable. From smoking during pregnancy to allowing unrestrained kids in vehicles, many of the norms we accepted back then would be unthinkable today. While our parents may argue that we’re overprotecting our children, it’s clear that contemporary safety measures are based on better understanding and awareness of risks.