Originally Posted by
boingy
There's a lot of truth in this Mick. I'm 61. A sixtees child. The tough plenty of backbone approach did a lot of good except for where kids needed the opposite. As you know I am suffering now due to a schizophrenic cruel mother and a dad who was told "Don't praise kids, it will go to their heads" How I needed some attention, love and praise but no nothing. Now I can't see love if it stares me in the face. I don't know how to smile, if I try it feels like the most false thing ever. I remember going to school and if a kid had cross eyes the parents did nothing, "She'll be alright" they would say. It was a case of shut up or put up. Interestingly I have been trying to access parental records to try and understand as much as I can and the guy from social services said that we have been inundated with people from my age group doing the same thing. Took him three months to come back to me with nothing as it happened. I agree with having strong standards but only if the kids can take it. Many with stable backgrounds can and it builds an inner steel, but those who are battered as an infant need the complete opposite. They need to know and feel that someone actually cares about them.