Parenting advice from the 90s.

Posted by Absurdist1981@reddit | Xennials | View on Reddit | 27 comments

Found this guide to fear-based parenting from the 90s at a used bookstore today. $2.00 was more than I could afford, but I'm sure there's some sound advice in there I could use for my own teenager today.

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Overall_Falcon_8526@reddit

AIDS, crack, Bernie Goetz..... British Politician Sex....

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ProfessionalCoat8512@reddit

I hope the back flap just said AIDS.

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TiEmEnTi@reddit

I told my Mom when I was 8 that it didn't matter how many child psychology books she read, their tricks weren't going to work on me

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Neither-Mycologist77@reddit

I read all of my parents' magazines and books. My theory was "know thine enemy." I wanted to be mentally prepared for whatever the crazy fundamentalists told them to do next and to look for loopholes.

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chase02@reddit

I’m going against the grain here and maddened by the closing statement. A teen you enjoy and respect. That sums up parents from that era well, now we are raising kids to be resilient and confident, with our full support. Then it was something you owned to enjoy and brag about. Reality was you were told not to return until street lights were on.

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andrewclarkson@reddit

I guess it comes down to how you look at it. I kinda read enjoy as meaning someone you want to spend time with as opposed to family you're obligated to tolerate.

I'm a parent of a 6yo and I've always looked at my job as preparing him to deal with the world without me. I want him to be happy in life and for us to have a good relationship into adulthood but my primary role always has to be preparing him to take on life without me.... because one day I'll be gone and he'll have to.

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Absurdist1981@reddit (OP)

Yes. There is no mention of love or compassion. I can't imagine prioritizing my own "enjoyment" over an actual connection to my kids. You should respect your kids for who they are, not what they can accomplish.

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PotentialPlum4945@reddit

Well, at least they're advocating for having a good relationship with your teenager. Not, fuck it, just give them a phone when they piss you off.

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prosequare@reddit

God if only my parents had this book. I got aids three times and did fourteen cracks before global economic competition caught up with me and I went to rehab.

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tigerlilie43@reddit

gif

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fromthedarqwaves@reddit

And when you got out of rehab you were punched in the face by global warming

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Absurdist1981@reddit (OP)

Sounds about right. Thank God the global economy is collapsing today. Inflation will make crack too expensive for our kids. With modern healthcare, AIDS is about as bad as catching a cold.

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