AND they probably really did it too.....
Their kids (us) had to live very frugally, no extravanganzas, no frills, B&W TV's, the whole shooting match. Well, here comes the BB (Baby boomers), now begin parenting back in the, say, 1960's to 1990's.
"By G*D my kids are NOT going to have to put up with what I had to put up with;ie, THEY will have EVERYTHING I did NOT have when I was a kid..."
And THERE you have it!!
We not only gave our kids EVERYTHING we practically PROGRAMED them in to an entitlement generation. Instead of "what can I do to help to pull my weight" their whine became "What are you going to do FOR ME right now?"
Helicopter parents don't create responsible, hard working citizens, they create "Homing pidgeons!!!
You do NOT have to be your "kids best friend!" Argh how I HATE to hear a parent tell me they think of their 14-21 year old child as "their best friend"... Stop it. They are your children, NOT your best friend. They NEED direction, they NEED discipline, they NEED parenting, NOT a best friend.
Oh, but I forgot, you have to work 50+ hours a week to pay off the big home, that new BMW, or that expensive wardrobe. Oh, hey, BTW, the kids are all in "kiddy kennels" or public schools from 8:00am to 5:30pm. No time to parent....
Oh well, just buy 'em the newest video game, or get 'em a new iPod... Yeah that works too, right? Isn't that parenting?
Add Dr. Spock at the top of the list. Now that I understand politically what’s happening, I’m convinced Dr Spock was a huge progressive, promoted by his fellow travelers to foster guilt in parents, ignorance in their children, and change the whole dynamic of raising children and dumbing down the education system - with no good results anywhere along the line.