8 things boomer mothers did that seemed ordinary then but would be considered remarkable parenting today - Silicon Canals

"Remember when kids played outside until the streetlights came on? When birthday parties meant homemade cake and pin the tail on the donkey in the backyard? Growing up in the 80s and 90s, I watched my mom navigate parenthood with what seemed like effortless simplicity. No parenting blogs, no Instagram comparisons, no endless debates about screen time limits. Just her, doing what came naturally, guided by instinct and maybe a worn copy of Dr. Spock."

""Mom, I'm bored!" I must have said this a thousand times growing up. You know what my mother's response was? A shrug and maybe a suggestion to go read a book or play outside. She didn't rush to entertain me, didn't feel guilty about my boredom, didn't scramble to fill every moment with structured activities. Today, this would be called fostering creativity and independence. Psychologists now tell us that boredom is crucial for developing imagination, self-reliance, and problem-solving skills."

"Now, as I watch my friends become parents, I'm struck by how different things are. They track every milestone on apps, research every decision exhaustively, and feel guilty about things my mom never even considered. Yet looking back, so many of the things boomer mothers did without thinking twice would be considered exceptional parenting today. Things that required no special equipment, no expert consultation, just time and presence."

Boomer mothers practiced instinctive, low-technology parenting during the 1980s and 1990s, relying on experience rather than blogs or social media. Children spent long afternoons playing outside, inventing games, and developing imagination through boredom. Parents often prepared one meal for the whole family and handled daily routines without specialized equipment or expert consultation. Modern parents increasingly track milestones on apps, research decisions extensively, and feel guilt over routine choices. Many simple, time-intensive acts such as presence, unscheduled play, and shared family meals now align with contemporary ideas about fostering independence and problem-solving.

Read at Silicon Canals