No-one should interpret this post as ‘bring back the good old days’. The good old days are in the remembrance of the beholder and in reality wasn’t universally all that good.
I challenge anyone to show me how overall how the 50/60/70 were better than today.
Children are remarkably resilient and often deal with reality a lot better than adults possibly because they have no comparisons and just accept.

Much of my childhood was spent in comparative isolation in the jungles of PNG.
The school had 15 pupils, without constant electricity I learn to amuse myself even inventing a playmate. I read almost anything in print and haunted the local village and bush.

My children moved from suburbia mid primary school to a property in the Adelaide Hills. They too became self reliant/self entertaining and developed diverse interests. We read Dr Suess, then the classical Aust children’s literature May Gibb, the magic Pudding, including their favourite Ruth Parks “the muddle headed Wombat” adventures et al.

I also wrote stories for circumstances including the shocking expose of “the Antegowobblers (tooth fairy money tree gardeners who help out with deliveries). Each had their own particular Antegowobbler to suit the specific child.
I generally took them to innumerable clubs Adventurers/Explorers, Field Naturalists, friends of the zoo, museum and Double Helix (CSIRO).
My children now in their mid/late twenties remember the times as being good But my part in it is ‘oh yer you were part of it’ …That is how it should be it is their lives not mine. A bit like a lady shouldn’t look good because of a new dress …the lady should look good in the new dress (PART of that look).
My point is that too many people spend too much time effort, money either living their lives through their children or trying to create over coddled environments for their children then get upset if it doesn’t go to plan.
Children will take what they need at the time shouldn’t we let them grow up at their speed? Children aren't mini mes we are only their guides

Good topic examinator.

I wholeheartedly agree that we are guides for our children and that ultimately they have to make their own way and choices through life. Parents contribute just one part of the influences and lessons from which our children will learn.

We can all probably find aspects we perceive as better or worse from childhood but as you say our personal experiences mean it is very much in the eye of the beholder.

I wonder if kids today are resilient. We talk more about resilience but in reality I think some of the 'me me' aspects of today's society have made us less resilient and more reliant on external props rather than internal ones. This is not to say that external props are not essential to a fair society who seeks to provide support where it is needed.

I grew up without television and electronic gadgets and found the experience of playing more varied and stimulating to a growing mind. I tried to provide a similar environment for our kids with restricted electronic gameplay.

At the risk of sounding old fashioned, the good things about the past that I would like to bring back include:

- greater respect and politeness in our speech (including less swearing). There is nothing worse than walking through a crowd of kids who are using foul mouthed and disrespectful language towards each other. The way some kids (and teachers for that matter) speak to teachers, parents and each other is a real bugbear and has greater implications for overall societal wellbeing.

- more fantasy and 'natural' game play for children without over-emphasis or reliance on electronic games

- less emphasis on competition (worse in the USA) where every child has to start reading lessons, ballet, piano and pure science by the age of 4. (Okay I am exagerating a bit)

- more family time where work and 'the economy' or making money does not override the raising, care and protection of our children particularly during the most vulnerable years.

- less emphasis on material wealth and more on spiritual wealth (not religious).

Dear examinator,

I remember the evening my younger son came walking
in with an outfit that gave new meaning to the
word 'colourful.' We were about to have dinner with
friends, and his outfit was not exactly what I
had in mind. Using my best diplomatic skills,
I asked him to change into something else. He was not
enthusiastic. After a few minutes of getting nowhere,
his older brother, passed by and asked, 'Mum, why does
everything always have to be perfect?'

In a very real way, that question was a turning point in
my life as a parent, and the ripples of that moment
still affect me.
Obviously, everything doesn't have to be perfect.
Like many parents, I had been caught up in the external,
the trivial. I was making a major flap about a shirt
and a pair of trousers.

These days it's not surprising to find my children
wearing odd clothes, but I'm no longer concerned.
When my children reach old age, it probably won't matter
what they wore or how fabulous their sixth birthday party
was.

If you think about it, a good portion of our efforts are
as parents devoted to external matters that may not
really matter at all.

What will be important is the content of our children's
hearts and minds, or what is often described as
character. When we say, "It's what's inside you that
counts," we speak a simple but profound truth.

We have growing agendas for raising our children. But while
we are feverish about providing our children every
opportunity from music lessons, tennis lessons,
it seems that our job as parents is much simpler,
and that is to raise a decent human being.

Decency might sound like a modest ambition, but in today's
culture it's not so easy to achieve as we might think.
Every parent I know lives with the uneasy sense that their
children are growing up too fast. While we spin our wheels
worrying about 'reading, writing, and arithmetic,' our
children may be missing the 'real basics,' like respect,
loyalty, and a sense of fair play.

Foxy, I too remember a similar wake-up call from one of my kids.

I went into the bathroom one day and immediately yelled out for whoever hadn't put the seat down to come and do so immediately.

My youngest came in and duly put the seat down but then said "Mum, you live in a house with four guys. How come we have to put the seat down? Why shouldn't you put the seat up? We use the loo more than you?"

Damn! What the hell was I on about, after all?

Not only toilet seats, but a whole lot of other completely b.s. garbage became non-issues in our house from then on.

Interesting posts. Gets one thinking and especially about 'why do we have to be perfect'. My partner who is in building design decided to wear to work a 'loud and most colourful' shirt from Asia. I was almost embarrassed about it and said I wouldn't walk with him out the door.

Instead and that day, my partner recieved all manner of POSITIVE comments about daring to be different, and what a nice shirt it was. They were genuine comments.

It helps me now and since that lesson. I don't care so much about what others think and if any differences stand out; we'll perhaps get more feedback and positive affirmations while holding the head up high in this world of trying to conform.

The story above from "Foxy" about the colourful shirt reminded me of my individuality and now I am PROUD of my partner who dared to wear that shirt.

Dear Romany and Cakers,

Thanks for sharing your experiences.
It's funny how in life it's the little
things that sometimes make you realize
what's really important. I guess we've
all had moments that have lifted the
fog for us, caused the Great Aha!,
and literally changed our lives.

Once I realized that I was making a fuss over
something that wasn't all that important,
I started looking seriously for ways to
help my children learn right from wrong,
and to know that sometimes there is a
decision to be made in the middle.

But it's not easy. As I've said in another
post other solar systems begin to have their
appeal when you realize that your child is
just as likely to find a condom as a flower,
in the park.

But, you keep on going, trying to surround your
children with a sturdy sensibility, a world view,
and wanting it to be different from the 'Me'
mentality of modern culture. You don't always
succeed, but you keep on trying, hoping that
eventually you'll get it right...
(fingers crossed).

I think most parks, actually all parks I've been to have more flowers than condoms.