https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 22 Jun 2026 12:53:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2405040 Wed, 30 Dec 2015 20:33:51 +0000 Boogs 2405040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wonder how anyone does it, past or present! When talking to our moms, we were left to our own devices most of the time while they got things done. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2401420 Mon, 28 Dec 2015 08:07:05 +0000 Modern Daisy 2401420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was never allowed in my parents room and had a strict bedtime, which is something that is super rare today with all the co-sleeping and kids staying up as late as adults. I was also allowed to watch a ton of TV growing up, otherwise my mom couldn't have gotten anything done. And my parents also never played with me. If I wanted a play mate I went outside and knocked on a neighbors door. Now everything is over scheduled and adult participation is normal and expected. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2401412 Mon, 28 Dec 2015 07:54:51 +0000 looch 2401412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really need to ask some of the great grandmothers how they did it!</p> <p>I know in my father's family (he was an ooops baby born 14 years after his closest sib), his sisters basically raised him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2401115 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 19:06:49 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2401115@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The other thing my mom reminds me is that people lead much simpler lives. They didn't have boxes of Christmas decorations that they had to put up and put away. They didn't throw elaborate birthday parties. There wasn't unnecessary clutter. Even things like keeping up with the cell phone bill wasn't an issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2401072 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 18:12:36 +0000 mrbee 2401072@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Where I live, it's a little similar - most parents have lots of kids and usually work too. The kids don't get much parental time/focus, and the parents pretty much do their own thing! And their own parents help a lot... everyone has kids young, so the "grandparents" are around the same age as parents are in the US. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2401047 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 17:15:11 +0000 LindsayLou 2401047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree, different expectations and different way of life. Parenting was different then. My mom got a lot of judgement from her parents in the early nineties when she was breastfeeding, refusing to do cry it out, and spending most of her time playing with us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2401042 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 17:09:36 +0000 Andrea 2401042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was different even when we were growing up. My parents never played with me. I was up watching cartoons by myself all morning and eating cereal at around 5 years old. Now it's gotta limit screentime or else our kids will be dummies!! :shocked: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2401038 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 17:05:06 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2401038@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with there just being different expectations. </p> <p>And we know more today. Like my grandma gave all her kids rice cereal in their bottles at4 weeks so they would sleep through the night. Rum on their gums when teething. Honey on their pacifiers so they would take them. Straight to formula because "I didn't have time to breastfeed!" I don't know if that's actually a time saver, lol. But she said no one breastfed then. </p> <p>Different times! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2401036 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 17:03:13 +0000 Mama Bird 2401036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think there were more chores kids could help with, and they were expected to do it! Like, they could sweep and peel potatoes and feed chickens and carry small bits of firewood. And maybe there weren't as many toys per kid, so they kind of had to rely on chores for entertainment? And if they weren't busy with chores they could be sent outside to play. </p> <p>I try to get the kids to help around the house (mixed results so far) but there's definitely no outside where I'd feel safe with them playing alone till they're teenagers. And they're so used to being indoors that even getting them to go outside can take an hour. It's a huge time drain and being able to shoo them out to hang out with friends would mean so much more getting done at home! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2401031 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 17:00:35 +0000 Mamasig 2401031@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Life was different and expectations were different. My mom never entertained us or played with us. We were taken care of as in fed, clothed, and loved, but my mom rarely played with us. The adults and taking care of the house were the top priorities. Saturdays were for cleaning and grocery shopping and Sundays were for church and visiting my grandmother. Fun for us was a distant third. Children are much more central to lives now. It's just a totally different world. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2401021 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 16:53:33 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2401021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To answer the original question, from what my mom says parents just didn't indulge kids the way we do now. We let our three year old cry a huge tantrum this morning and she has been in a remarkably good mood since, no more whining. I think not reacting could be the thing that works for us too... I hope anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2401018 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 16:51:51 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2401018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: it's so early, I have been thinking about this (except it's the three year old that's needy here) and just concluded that if we wait another three years then the oldest will be in elementary school and just more self sufficient and that's how it'll work out. (Older lo is 3, younger is almost 3 mo) Hugs your way! I'm sure it'll work out just fine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2401013 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 16:41:13 +0000 yoursilverlining 2401013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pinkcupcake: exactly this, I think. Parenting was very different then, expectations were different. Kids were busy working too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2401002 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 16:34:26 +0000 Foodnerd81 2401002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no idea how they did it. But I also can't imagine how anyone has more than two kids right now. I am absolutely falling apart with one relatively well behaved toddler and one very needy newborn and a very helpful husband. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2400998 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 16:31:57 +0000 matador84 2400998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't know why but I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Probably because I feel so "overconsumered" and how so many people back then got by fine with much less.</p> <p>I think to my grandparents and beyond who didn't have electricity, running water, etc! So crazy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2400986 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 16:09:26 +0000 Truth Bombs 2400986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If the kids screamed and tantrumed, the parents let them work it out for themselves. There was far less pressure to constantly entertain/engage your kids. And kids were much less coddled back then. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2400984 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 15:57:12 +0000 travelgirl1 2400984@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All the time. I asked my MIL the other day how on earth she ever got out of the house on time with seven kids under seven. She laughed and said there weren't the pressures in life that there are now, no one clock watched like they do today.</p> <p>And she said children just weren't the centre of everyone's lives like they are now. She said they were loved, of course, but had and knew their place, </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2400980 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 15:54:39 +0000 pinkcupcake 2400980@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like playing with your children and entertaining them constantly is a relatively new concept. Seems like back in the old days, kids were left to play alone or had a lot of chores to help out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-they-do-it#post-2400973 Sun, 27 Dec 2015 15:43:22 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2400973@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you ever wonder how on earth our great great grandmothers got all of the "house maintenance" done with little kids at home? Like, they had legit things to do...cooking everything from scratch, sewing, washing clothes (without modern appliances of course), probably a little farming.... I feel like, despite my efforts to teach my kid to play independently, I can barely find 5 minutes without screaming and tantrums and feeling like the house is on fire. </p> <p>How on earth did they do it?!? And seriously, if they can, why can't I (we?) </p>