You know what’s funny? Just last weekend, I was at the park with my grandkids when my eleven-year-old grandson asked if he could climb the big oak tree near the playground.
Without thinking, I said, “Sure, just be careful up there!” A younger parent nearby looked absolutely horrified and rushed to tell me about all the dangers of tree climbing.
It got me thinking about how much parenting has changed since my generation raised our kids. These days, experts have plenty to say about what we boomers did “wrong” back in the day.
But here’s the interesting part: when I talk to my sons, now in their thirties with families of their own, they look back on many of these supposedly terrible practices with genuine fondness.
So today, let’s explore eight things that modern parenting experts might frown upon, but that somehow created some of the best memories for our now-grown children.
1. Letting kids roam the neighborhood unsupervised
Remember when “be home by dinner” was the only rule?
My boys would disappear for hours, building forts in the woods, riding bikes to the corner store, or playing pickup baseball at the vacant lot.
Today’s experts warn about stranger danger and the need for constant supervision.
But you know what my sons tell me now? Those unsupervised adventures taught them independence, problem-solving, and how to navigate social situations without an adult referee.
They learned to settle disputes, create their own fun, and yes, occasionally get into harmless mischief that became legendary family stories.
2. Not childproofing everything
We had stairs without gates, cabinets without locks, and coffee tables with sharp corners. Modern safety experts would have a field day with our homes!
Sure, there were bumps and bruises, but our kids learned spatial awareness and natural consequences pretty quickly.
My younger son still laughs about the time he learned why we said “don’t touch the stove.” He barely grazed it with his finger, pulled back immediately, and never did it again.
Today, he says that kind of hands-on learning stuck with him far better than any warning could have.
3. Serving sugary cereals and “junk food”
Saturday mornings meant bowls of Lucky Charms while watching cartoons. Birthday parties featured cake, ice cream, and not a veggie tray in sight.
Nutritionists today would be appalled at our pantries stocked with Twinkies and fruit roll-ups.
Yet somehow, those treats created magical memories. My sons still talk about the excitement of grocery shopping and getting to pick one “fun” cereal.
It wasn’t about the sugar content; it was about the ritual, the small freedoms, and feeling trusted to make a choice.
4. Using TV as a babysitter
I’ll admit it: there were plenty of times when Linda and I needed to get things done, and the TV kept the boys occupied.
No educational apps, no screen time limits carefully calculated by child development experts. Just good old-fashioned cartoons and sitcom reruns.
But here’s what happened during those TV sessions: my kids developed inside jokes from shows they watched, learned to share the remote, and discovered interests that shaped their personalities.
One son became fascinated with science after watching nature documentaries. Sometimes, that “mindless” screen time opened unexpected doors.
5. Not praising every little achievement
We didn’t hand out trophies for showing up. A “good job” was reserved for actual good jobs. Modern experts talk about building self-esteem through constant positive reinforcement, but we believed in honest feedback.
When my sons succeeded at something difficult, our praise meant something because it wasn’t given freely. They learned the difference between genuine achievement and just going through the motions.
Both have told me that this approach helped them develop real confidence, not the fragile kind that needs constant external validation.
6. Enforcing chores without payment
Taking out the trash, doing dishes, mowing the lawn — these weren’t money-making opportunities in our house. They were just part of being in a family.
Today’s experts might argue we should’ve incentivized with allowances or reward charts. But my grown sons now say those unpaid chores taught them that sometimes you do things simply because they need doing.
They learned responsibility without expecting immediate rewards, and they appreciate knowing how to take care of a home without someone dangling a carrot.
7. Allowing boredom
“I’m bored” was met with “go find something to do” rather than a scheduled activity or enrichment program.
We didn’t feel obligated to be constant entertainment directors. Child development experts today stress the importance of structured activities and engaged parenting.
Yet those boring summer afternoons led to incredible creativity. My sons built elaborate LEGO worlds, started neighborhood clubs, and invented games with rules so complex they needed notebooks to track them.
Boredom, it turns out, was the fertile ground where imagination grew.
8. Being the parent, not the friend
One thing you can say for sure about boomer parents: we weren’t concerned with being liked all the time.
We set rules, enforced them, and definitely weren’t trying to be the “cool parents.” Modern parenting often emphasizes connection and understanding over authority.
But you know what? My sons respect that clear boundary now. They knew where they stood, what was expected, and that our love wasn’t conditional on being their buddy.
Today, we ARE friends, but that friendship is built on the solid foundation of respect that came from us being parents first when they needed it.
Closing thoughts
As I watch my sons raise their own children in this very different world, I see them trying to balance what they learned from us with today’s parenting wisdom.
They use car seats properly (thank goodness), but they also let their kids climb trees. They limit screen time, but they also allow for lazy Saturday morning cartoons.
Maybe the real lesson isn’t that we did everything wrong or that today’s experts have it all figured out. Perhaps it’s that kids are more resilient than we think, and that love, consistency, and common sense matter more than following every latest parenting trend.
What “wrong” things from your childhood do you remember most fondly?
