Did growing up in the 60s and 70s create more resilient adults?

Question

It seems so. Source: Global English Editing

OneViewpoint · Accepted Answer

ROFL, my ex wife was appalled by my childhood and said many times my parents wanted me dead. She was the daughter of Sicilian immigrants who was literally not allowed to cross the street by herself at age 15. My childhood was basically what the article described. I grew up on Air Force bases all over the world. 7 schools K-12. Both my parents worked. We walked out the door at 8AM and showed up around dinner time. In between we hooked up with the other kids in the neighborhood and did stuff that ranged from fun to stupid and life threatening. There were multiple trips to the hospital. Nobody ever died. And you NEVER complained twice about having nothing to do!

By about 14-15, my dad was retired from the Air Force and we were living in the Boston area. I was backpacking for 1-2 weeks at a time in a mountain wilderness area with a friend or my cousin. Our parents would drop us off. We'd finish the trip and hitchhike into the town near the end of our route to take a bus back to Boston. Our parents would pick us up at South Station bus terminal.

It was not unusual for me to jump on my bike and ride 30 miles to my cousin's house without telling anyone. I'd spend a couple of days there and then ride my bike home. My parents and my aunt and uncle would communicate via phone to inform each other. Once I rode to my cousins house and we rode down to Cape Cod where his friend had a beach house. That was bout 90 miles. We spent a lot of time in a tiny dinghy wrapping M80 (firecrackers) in tin foil with a rock and dropping them over the side of the dinghy to make our own depth charges.

I had a friend who was Armenian. If a group of us were playing basketball in his driveway, his father would come out of the house with an armful of his kid's sweaters and make all of us put on a sweater.

We jumped our bikes off a local quarry / sand pit. The drop could be up to 30 feet.

By the time I entered the Army, reading a topographical map and using a compass was child's play (literally) and my land navigation skills allowed me to cruise through training. Being alone in the middle of nowhere didn't make me panic. It felt like old times and good fun.

My parents would be shot for criminal negligence today. 🤣🤣🤣

WindAtMyBack · Accepted Answer

Not just 60s and 70s, but all the times before that. I didn't read the entire article, but the first part is true. Parents in later years became overly protective. Yes, we were allowed to just go outside and roam. We climbed trees as high as we could get. Yea it was dangerous, but we did it anyway.

When I was five years old they were building a house next door. It had a basement. I remember when the basement walls were poured, and it just had a ladder going down, I used to climb down there to explore. I don't think my mom even knew I was over there. I don't think she was outside at all.

I see parents today who don't let their kids do anything. They don't let kids do things at 10-12 that we used to do at 5-6. You have to let kids be kids. You can't have them studying or taking piano lessons all the damn time. They need to get out and explore and just be kids. How are they supposed to know about crawdads, minnows and baby birds if they are inside all the damn time.

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Accepted Answer

Resilient? Sure, we can attribute them those traits. Don’t forget to add “emotionally suppressed” as well.

sage2021 · Accepted Answer

I believe that to be true.

NathanDavis · Answer

you mean... those who survived lead and asbestos?

exitseven · Answer

I bet it did. I grew up in the 70s and it was a lot harder than what todays kids have to deal with.

strateguy632 · Answer

Nope childhood in 80s u. s. With g. i. Joe did!

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

Yes, but we Boomers kinda suck in so many ways !!!

Did growing up in the 60s and 70s create more resilient adults?

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Did growing up in the 60s and 70s create more resilient adults?

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Could today's kids and teens survive and thrive in the era you grew up in?

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