Then and Now: What a difference

The primary goal of parenting then was to raise an independent child, which entailed letting the child be independent.

The primary goal of parenting now is to raise a safe child, which entails keeping the child safe by limiting their independence.

This change is best summed up by Dave Barry: "Today it is common practice for
parents to go trick or treating with their kids on Halloween -- when I was a
kid my parents told me to be back by Thanksgiving."

College at a private school then was 5,000 dollars while the average salary was 15,500 dollars.

College at a private school now is 40,000 dollars while the average salary is 55,000 dollars.

This change is best summed up by The Law of Diminishing Returns.

When a team won the baseball world series then, the players walked off the field and shook hands.

When a team wins the world series now, the players, and fans alike, celebrate in a manner that surpasses V-Day or V-J day.

This change is best summed up by Jerry Springer

When traveling by car then, your family used a trip ticket from AA - this consisted of mailing a letter about the cities that you planned to visit on your trip and waiting a month to receive several maps with magic marker lines showing the way.

When traveling by car now, you activate the GPS on your phone, car, laptop or watch and let it show you the way.

This change is best summed up by the notion that planning and patience are lost
virtues.

When kids drew violent picturesin school then, it was considered normal - a healthy way to express aggressive impulses. Teachers would tell kids to get back to their work and save the drawing for free time.

When kids draw violent pictures in school now, it is considered pathological -- an obvious indication of derangement. Teachers report such drawings to the administration so that the child can be suspended for breaking the school's anti-violence policy, or brought to a psychiatrist or hospital for evaluation.

This change is best summed up by a misguided delusion of control 

A really, really spoiled kid then had significantly less than the average kid now.

This change is best summed up by -- the peril of inflation.

Kids often got together on their own and played baseball, football, basketball and hockey then (my personal favorite was the years that 6 streets within walking distance made street hockey teams - we made a schedule of 1 home and away game against each street - the winner got an industrial size plastic bag of popcorn from a family that owned a restaurant).

Kids sometimes get together, usually with prodding, to play video games, play computer games, or get driven to inconveniently scheduled organized events now.

This change is best summed up by the Bye-Bye Birdie song: What's the matter with kids today?

If a guy used anything but his hand in a fight or wrestling match then, he was considered less than a guy -- if he picked up a rock or weapon he would be mocked and/or shunned.

If a guy doesn't use something more than his hands now, he is often considered stupid or soft/weak.

This change is best summed up by de-evolution or The Heart of Darkness effect!

If a kid wanted a trinket, good humor ice cream or to stay up past his/her bedtime and was told NO then, he/she would likely whine, pout, cry or tantrum.

If a kid wants a trinket, good humor ice cream or to stay up past his/her bedtime and is told NO now, he/she will likely whine, pout, cry or tantrum.

Of course, some things never change!