Are Baby Boomers Tougher Than You?

The very best thing about growing up in the late 60s and thru the 70s, Was absolutely NO INTERNET and NO CELLPHONES. We actually played outside and were riding bikes and being creative.

The worst punishment was, '' You can't go outside ''...

Boomer here (1952). WITHOUT QUESTION our parents and grandparents were far tougher than we were.

AT 18, I WAS ON MY OWN, NOW DAYS THESE BRATS STILL CANT LET GO OF THEIR BABY BOTTLE

I'm a boomer (1956). My parents favorite line (but I heard it most from Mom) had to be "Go outside and play"

In the 50s, car manuals told you how to adjust the engine valves. Now car manuals tell you not to drink the contents of the battery.

I am a baby boomer...1946. Played all day long in the summer and outside when at home after school. A great life.

The Best part of the 60's and 70's was the Music . . . . still the Best.

One thing which was missed, teachers didn't tolerate any BS.

I was born in ‘58. We might be tougher than subsequent generations but we are wimps compared to (my parents) the Greatest Generation.

We had friends, real friends, not Facebook friends. We talked to those friends, face to face or on the phone, with a cord. Two boys fighting usually turned into a lifelong friendship. Not a shooting. We learned how to handle and face conflict, not hide from it. If we were bullied or called a name, we got over it. We learned how to solve problems, not create them. And we got along with EVERYone, no matter what color your skin. We were the generation of Martin Luther King. We didn’t judge you by the color of your skin, but your character. Remember?

We rode bicycles without a helmet. I didn't even see a bike helmet until I was around 20 years old. I could walk to my friend's house without supervision. We always addressed the Moms and Dads by Mrs or Mister. And every time we visited we were asked to stay for lunch. But never dinner. We always ate at home in our formal dining room. We had to eat liver once a month, and every meal we would not be allowed to watch television until we ate all of the vegetables. Zero seatbelts. Metal dashboards. The TV had tubes and no transistors. We called a TV repairman to fix it. Black and white only, no color. Four channels and they went off the air at 11:00pm. My Dad was checking the roof on our three story house. I climbed the ladder and walked around with him. No problem. We always felt like we were free, really free. No police ever showed up at Grammer school. Because the Vice Principal was so freaking scary. I only went one time. I went home that day and as soon as I walked in the house I told my parents. Because back then they would know all about it anyway. I was told , it was my fault and not to do it again. It was a very minor infraction but back then if an adult turned me in for anything. I would be in trouble. Our parents had us but good. We ate fried foods and huge amounts of candy and almost none of us gained any extra weight. Because we walked or rode bicycles everyday. We lived less than one mile from school so we all walked, winter snow heavy rain. No problem. We always walked in groups. What a time to be alive. None of what I said is advice. I doubt that anyone today would be able to handle it.

As a boomer, I have always thought my parents and grandparents were tougher.

The big difference was mental toughness. Nobody whined about their lot in life. No emotional support animals or safe spaces. Didn’t like dinner? Don’t eat it. Nothing special will be prepared just for you. Fall off your bike? Dust yourself off, dab up the blood, and get back on. Something nasty happened? No counselling or psychiatry support. Get over it. Actions had consequences. Nobody wondered about what gender they might be. A very different time. Nobody expected life to be easy or fair. Nobody expected a smooth ride, or to get something for nothing. And thank God there were no brainless “influencers.”

Absolutely! I'm a Baby Boomer and we're definitely tougher. My dad owned a dairy in South Florida. I grew up riding horses, rounding up cows, driving tractors and pickups. What a great life that was. I really miss it.

Proud to be a WWII and Korean Veteran''s son. Some people never get to meet their hero's, I was raised by mine.

"...when the streetlights come on" Most boomers know what that meant.

My dad was a boomer, and he had that mentality: if something is broken, you fix it. You just don't buy a new one.

Kids had a healthier lifestyle back then. More physical activity and better food choices. The boomers learned to be tough. No choice.

I'm a boomer and I'm the first to tell you my parents were tough and smart. If I'm a quarter of the man my dad was I've done just fine.