There’s nothing quite like a wave of nostalgia to make you rethink your parenting choices. While I recognize that overly protective helicopter parenting can harm both parents and children, I often find it frustrating when advice suggests we should parent like our predecessors. Times have changed.
Take, for instance, the latest article titled “What Would My Mother Do?” It states, “My mom never thought about keeping us entertained or enrolling us in expensive summer camps. She simply told us to go outside, and we did.” In 1985, letting kids roam the neighborhood unsupervised was a staple of childhood, but that’s not the case in 2015. If I told my 7-year-old to play outside all day, drink from the garden hose, and count on a neighbor to feed her, I’d risk someone calling the authorities. Society is much more vigilant about child safety now, and the days of children freely wandering the streets are long gone.
The simple directive to “just tell your kid to go outside” is outdated. We must face the reality that I can’t just let my child roam the neighborhood like I did as a kid. Today, we have camps, daycares, clubs, and scheduled playdates—the modern-day alternatives to simply sending kids out to play. I don’t enroll my child in these activities to pamper her; I do so because that’s where other children are. That’s the world we live in today.
I understand the desire to recreate the carefree childhood experiences of our own youth. Nostalgia can be a powerful emotion, one that often leads us to yearn for the past. If we truly want to foster a sense of community, it could be beneficial to gather with other parents to discuss how we can create a neighborhood environment that supports our kids. Perhaps we could even collaborate with local authorities and other families to ensure a safe space for our children to play. However, this requires commitment and cooperation from everyone involved, not just parents.
While it may be tempting to try to replicate the childhood I had—riding my banana seat bike without a helmet—my daughter’s experiences will inevitably differ. She’ll spend time at sports camps or community centers, where safety is prioritized. That’s simply the reality of parenting in 2015, and I’m at peace with that.
Let’s stop pretending that the option to lock our kids outside until dinner is still feasible. Creating a child-friendly environment today requires collective effort and a willingness to adapt. If you’re investing significant energy into recreating a 1985 childhood instead of embracing the present, it may be time to reassess who’s truly overthinking their parenting choices.
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In summary, it’s essential to acknowledge that parenting today comes with different challenges and realities compared to previous generations. Embracing the present while being open to community support can create a more enriching environment for our children.