To think back in the day, parents were shown more respect by others?

[brighteyedbusytailed]

I could well be wrong and I suspect I'm much younger than a lot on here.

I do get the impression that parents were given much more respect in the way of 'well you are the parent what you say goes' or just kept opposing opinions to themselves.

People nowadays regardless of having children/being childless, everyone has an opinion and there seems to be a judgement on everything, smacking is bad, un smacked children are poorly disciplined? to breastfeed or bottlefeed being a SAHM/WOHM.

AIBU to think parents in the 'day' were given more implication that they knew best and probably didn't deal with all the judgement modern day parents do???.

[marriedinwhite]

There's more information available so most people are more aware of different options in relation to all sorts of things not just parenting styles.

The sense of "self" has been put on a pedestal and there is less of a tendency to keep opinions to oneself or to be mindful of the thoughts and feelings of others.

Society is less formal and more relaxed nowadays - even though I'm an old gimmer I wouldn't dream of expecting my children's friends or people at work to call me Mrs. (Although I do expect my children's teachers and doctors, etc., to call me Mrs rather than being over familiar - but that's a professional relationship).

I think we have stopped respecting the position a person holds to some extent and expect the person in it to command respect because of their skill, etc.. OTH I think a lot of people nowadays do not necessarily command that respect, eg, when I was a child my teachers wore suits and dresses, nowadays they wear t shirts and flip flops.

I stood behind two kidults in Waitrose last night who had a small girl of about 2 or 3 with them. They were effing and blinding and the mother turned to the child (who was doing nothing in particular) and said "you're getting on my bleedin nerves and I've had enough of you today". What chance does that child stand I wonder of growing up to be respectful and courteous. Not sure I think that particular kidult or young mum does know best.

[WorraLiberty]

"People nowadays regardless of having children/being childless, everyone has an opinion and there seems to be a judgement on everything, smacking is bad, un smacked children are poorly disciplined? to breastfeed or bottlefeed being a SAHM/WOHM"

I rarely see this in RL though....I think it has much more to do with internet forums.

When I was a kid, Mums would discuss these things over a cup of tea and it was rare that one person would be so vehemently against another's parenting techniques that they would say so to their face.

What with forums, emails and texts, I think it's becoming much easier to know what people actually think.

[LadyBeagleEyes]

Exactly when is 'back in the day?
Last year, last decade, last century?
When was it the perfect time to be a parent?

[brighteyedbusytailed]

LOL at women got more respect in the past.

hmm I am young myself, strangely enough many would would consider me a kidult and strangely enough its older people who I have had to chastise as they feel a right to use bad language infront of my child.

yeah its possibly true that everyone did the same.

[JumpingThroughMoreHoops]

Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parents, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers.

Attributed to Socrates ( and I dont mean the Brazillian footballer)

[PomBearWithAnOFRS]

Everyone seemed to be given more respect "back in the day" - parents, adults in general, old people in particular, teachers, doctors, policemen and women, you name it, people just had better manners and more consideration and respect for each other.
We called our friends parents Mr and Mrs X, or Aunty or Uncle X if they were friends with our parents. We never ever called an adult by their first name alone.
I probably sound really old fashioned now but that's how it was, we wouldn't dream of swearing, or even saying Oh my God where anyone might hear us, it was "bad language" and we wouldn't dream of answering back to an adult - possibly to our own parents, if we were really "in a one" or in extreme temper/desperation, but never to someone else. It just didn't happen
Now I hear four and five year olds telling their mother to "fuck off" or saying an outright "no I won't" at the school gates and it horrifies me.

[chandellina]

I think a change has coincided with the blurring of age groups, so parents are often kidults who care more about being their child's friend than parent.

[Trills]

Maybe it was more common "back in the day" that people lived in the village where they grew up and everyone did things the same way because that's the way it is done so there would be nothing to comment on or judge because everyone does the same.

[NiceCupOfTeaAndASitDown]

Actually I think maybe it was just more common that an entire family (grandparents, aunts and uncles etc) parented a child in the generations before ours. I am of the feeling that parents make the decisions regarding their children and do not buy into the notion of "it takes a village to raise a child" - I'd like the 'village' to keep it's nose out and enjoy my children without telling them or me what to do... But I do wonder if perhaps things were different years ago.

Whatever the case I am taking notes already on what kind of grandparent I intend to be.. Namely 'there' but not giving unwanted advice or going crazy buying stuff that isn't needed. The trouble is I think people are eager for others to avoid the mistakes they have made in parenting. I don't necessarily think things are all that different now to when our parents or grandparents first had children

[valiumredhead]

There has always been judgement but I think we care more now what others think and are far more aware of other people's opinions due to parenting forums and FB etc.