"Remember those old family photos from the 1950s and 60s? Everyone looks so put together, so stoic. But behind those perfect smiles was a parenting style that would make today's child psychologists reach for their emergency hotline. Yet somehow, the kids who heard "stop crying or I'll give you something to cry about" grew up to rebuild nations after wars, create the technology revolution, and work the same job for forty years without complaining about their work-life balance."
"Growing up, I heard stories from older relatives about their childhoods that made me wince. My grandparents lived through the war, and their approach to raising kids reflected that harsh reality. No cushioning, no participation trophies, just raw expectations and consequences. The fascinating thing is that modern psychology tells us these phrases were deeply damaging. And they're probably right. But this same generation also shows remarkable resilience, work ethic, and emotional regulation that many of us younger folks struggle to match."
Families in the 1950s and 60s presented children as composed and stoic while enforcing strict, no-nonsense parenting that prioritized discipline over emotional expression. Common phrases like "stop crying or I'll give you something to cry about" and "children should be seen and not heard" suppressed open emotional display and taught children to observe and hold back. That upbringing reflected wartime realities and expectations of sacrifice, with little emphasis on comfort or participation awards. Psychological research labels such methods as damaging. Despite emotional costs, that generation often demonstrated resilience, a strong work ethic, ability to regulate emotions, and thoughtful communication.
Read at Silicon Canals
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