Childhood and Parenting…Then vs. Now


As a mom to a 10-year-old boy, I can’t help but think how different things were when I was his age in the 80’s. I am constantly taken aback by the generational differences in everyday things like attitude, food, entertainment, school, play, safety, health, and general well-being. I think we all agree that life was simpler then, which begs the question: has the proliferation of technology and all the advancements made parenting and childhood more complicated?

I’m a Gen-X’er and proud of it. We didn’t have the iPads, the iPhones, the iAnythings. What we did have was the iSelf, nothing more, nothing less. We had to figure out what to do with ourselves. In my case, it was fervently finishing my homework after school so that I could get outside to play with my best friend until dinner-time. I had no one watching over me and we would literally wander off far from home…gasp!  Those outings were basically the beacon of my childhood. At home, my mom was super doting, always making us great meals, taking us to the park, and just letting us be…which was enough. As a kid, I did gymnastic 2 times a week and no parent (including my own) attended or recorded our every move…although now I kind of wish they had a little.

I’m not saying it was all peaches and cream, heck sometimes I envy my 10-year old and all the attention he gets. All the activities he gets to participate in, all the medals he’s rightly earned in swimming, the help he gets from Papi or me on homework & projects, and the fact that he can Google anything and know the answer instantly.  Yet, it makes me sad that the majority of contact he has with his friends (apart from school) is via facetime or texting and getting them together requires a whole bunch of planning and coordination on behalf of us parents. We were outdoor kids, they are indoor kids. It is not anyone’s fault, it is simply the times we live in. Growing up now is full of more challenges for sure.

Parenting nowadays is a totally different story, than it was for my mom. As a marketing strategic planner, it’s important to understand this significant sociological shift because Mom’s are the gatekeepers of the household and understanding how she thinks and where she’s coming from, is key to making an emotional connection with her.

I often ask myself, as we hover over our children, are we trying to make up for something we never had? Are we wanting to make sure we don’t miss anything because we know all too well how fast time goes by? In this tech-driven world, I question how technology is shaping their minds and bodies, how their lack of outdoor time will play out later in life, whether I’m doing things right or could be doing something better, and so on and so on. There are always answers, for better or for worse. And there seems to always be this attitude to constantly guide, mold and shape your child. It’s exhausting!

Let’s all go back in time (in attitude & behavior at least), and give our kids the space to learn independence, to appreciate life outside of a screen where they can dream, play and imagine, all while Mom sits back with a cup of coffee (or wine), knowing that our instincts are right on and our kids will turn out alright…most likely better than us.



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Latina Entrepreneurs Are Taking the World by Storm

Image
Image by Seth Doyle I have to admit that for the majority of my working life, I have not given much thought to entrepreneurs given that I’ve always worked for good size companies that had everything in place and made it easy for me to just come in and do the work I needed to do. While I always appreciated what the founder (mostly women) had created, I didn’t give much thought into all the dreams, the effort, the long hours, and hard work that went into creating something out of nothing.   But being surrounded by successful Latina entrepreneurs that I am honored to call my friends, has given me a new perspective on what it means to pursue your dreams. As a Latina (and aspiring entrepreneur), let me tell you that NOW is a really good time to pursue your dreams and launch your own business.   Don’t believe me? Well check out these incredible, eye-opening, and inspiring facts:       Latinas in the U.S. are opening their own business at nearly 6 ti...
Read more

Christmas a lo Latino…a True Celebration of Diversity

Image
There is no better time to be a Latino in the U.S. than during the holidays. Oh my, the food, the drinks, the different customs, the singing, the parties, all overloading my senses and filling my stomach and soul.   Latino parties are big, loud and just keep going and going, sometimes until El Día de los Reyes Magos (The day of the Three Wise Men).   Having family and friends from all over Latin America means that most of my weekends during December are booked solid. Being part of different holiday traditions, rituals, and customs is a true celebration of Latin American diversity.    A Posada celebration one day, a Novena and villancicos the next, an Argentine asado with pan dulce another day, and a parranda Boricua style the next. In a span of just a few days, we go from a mix of Cumbia, Salsa, Tango, Bomba, Gaita, Plena, Son, Merengue and more…whoosh…no resting for us! While traditions vary from country to country, and even home-to-home, Christmas is t...
Read more

Brands Get Sentimental for Father’s Day, But Not for Hispanic Papi’s

Image
As of lately, I’ve noticed many advertisers going the sentimental route during holidays like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Now that Father’s Day has passed, many brands got emotional in English-language commercials but not in Spanish. Being a dad in today’s world is certainly different than it was a generation ago. Long gone are the days when dad was away from home most of the day, being the sole breadwinner and the disciplinarian in the family. Many of my dad friends come in all shapes and forms: single, divorced, gay, straight, stay-at-home dad and adoptive dads, and I admire them all. Each faced with their own set of challenges, yet moving forward at full speed and giving their kids the best.   From managing busy schedules, work, activities, while sharing housework chores and child-care duties, they have their hands full. And us mom’s, love them for that! Generally, when it comes to raising kids, most of the attention has gone to moms. But surprisingly, Father’s Day...
Read more