Are today's parents worse than parents of past generations or better?

Question

Today I was watching a mom and dad with a five year old. They were pleading with him to be good??? What the heck, aren't parents supose to be teaching the son right from wrong...not pleading for it.

Answer 1

they are worse. I blame part of that on people who could get along with one income for their family, but choose for both parents to work. The kids spend more time with the babysitter or pre-school than their parents. The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
If two incomes are need, that's understandable. But if they both work to have a bigger fancier house, expensive car, child care, a maid, and someone to do their laundry, the time could be better spent on raising their own children.

Answer 2

It's really a subjective topic. No matter the generation, there are fit, and unfit parents. No matter the decade, there are people who have a good sense of parental responsibility, and help guide their children into becoming healthy members of society...and there are people who simply fail at doing so. It would be foolish to think that 50 years ago, parents were better. If that were the case, there wouldn't have been serial killers, crime, etc. Obviously, this is not so.
Of course, there are newer societal and cultural elements with the advancements of technology. And there are many parents who make the mistake of allowing the television, or now the computer, to babysit their children. But who's to say parents of the past wouldn't have done the same? The fact is, there will always be a mix of parents who succeed, and those who struggle and fail. There are simply more vices for children now.

Answer 3

In one way the parents of today are better - they are generally better educated, better paid and in better health. But we lack somethings that our parents and grandparents had - the extended family, set rules and a more modest belief in what we need.
With others of their clan they could share the child raising wisdom's and tricks (some of which had passed their use-by dates) but there was always someone to advise and help out. Now with the distances we put between ourselves and our family, we lack that connection.
And then in steps the government - telling us how to raise the kids, telling us what we can't do, without filling in the gaps with what we can or should do. They choose to remove religion from education, leaving kids with no moral compass.
Then there's television, telling the kids (and us) all the things they "need" to be happy, popular, smart. And the parents have to work longer and spend less time with them in order for their kids to "fit in". Then they overcompensate for the lack of time by buying even more stuff. A never ending circle.
We stand at the cusp of a civilization break down. We are raising a generation that believes they are owed - owed a living, owed housing, owed an income - and all without requiring their own effort. We do this generation no favors in not teaching them what we all had to learn - there is no such thing as a free lunch.

Answer 4

Today's and past parents live differently, if you haven't noticed. Both do/did the best they can/could. Years ago there was not the technology nor crime of today, so it was safer to send childeren outdoors and let them emtertain themselves. I agree w/ you that these parents shouldn't have been PLEADING --- but now of days there are laws that say adults cannot spank a child like they could 25 yrs ago,
TIMES and RULES CHANGE

Answer 5

I think there is a distinct difference between past generations and our generation. Unlike parents of past generations, I think many of today's parents are afraid. Afraid? Yes. Afraid.

We are afraid of losing our children...

Losing our children to DHS.

Losing our children to wild friends.

Losing our children to drugs.

Losing our children to the next rampaging 'idjit' out there who decides to seriously injure or kill them--however they decide to do it.

In the past, a parent's greatest fear was of losing children to sickness. With advances in medical technology, that fear has lessened while the others listed have grown.

If a child is aware of a parent's fear, things can go down hill fast. The child who senses the parents fear, gains the 'upper hand' and calls the shots. A parent has to let go of fear-and just be a parent.

Another thing, it's really hard to be the parent/authority while staying in touch with what a child is going through. It's a tough balancing act. The authority part is especially difficult. I don't know a single child that likes to be told what to do--or what not to do. (Come to think of it, not many adults do either...) Yet if we have no rules, we have chaos.

So each of us decides what works for us. And hopefully, each parent tries to do better as they know better.

Are there any courses of "Parenting 101" out there? Most of us probably need it! ;-)

Answer 6

Worse! Have you seen the kids these people are raising these days! (Of course you have, you just told us! lol)
I shouldn't say that it's like that across the board, but a good 75% of the parents are not good ones and are creating little monsters.

Answer 7

It all depends on how you look at it.


Parents of yesterday did what they were taught. They actually parented. they saw to it you respect your elders for example

Parents of today(i' m no exception) teach their kids that we are all individuals with individual needs. We cant category everyone in one category. We teach our kids to stand up for what they believe in.

Parents of yesterday would have shunned the idea of speaking differently.

So we arent worse just different in all aspects.

Answer 8

i in my opinion sense that oldsters at present do no longer unavoidably parent. i comprehend in the previous mum and dad used a good number of actual and emotional kit to purpose to regulate their youngsters, which would be destructive. whether, at present as quickly as we are residing in certainly one of those laptop international it variety of feels that oldsters are particularly much petrified of disciplining their youngsters precise. i stumble on that many count number too lots on exterior impacts to no longer merely instruct their youngsters yet to babysit their youngsters. i've got seen mum and dad attempt to barter with their toddlers approximately sitting down in a theater and behaving, which merely gadgets a bad occasion that each little thing is negotiable and that they might do in spite of they choose. our youngsters at present strengthen up way too entitled--it relatively is the richest era and that they are no longer taught what the cost of money is and the thank you to earn issues and what annoying paintings somewhat is. There comes a element whilst a parent desires to be a parent whether it relatively is annoying and it skill that their youngsters might *****.

Answer 9

Yeah lets go back to the time when we just beat our kids into submission then they'll listen. "sarcasm people" I have an idea you have some kids then judge those of us doing our best to raise healthy happy children without tuning them into psychopaths by beating them everyday til they do what they are told.

Answer 10

It's a "let the TV babysit our kid" generation.