If boomers seem mentally tough, it's because these 10 childhood realities shaped them

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If boomers seem mentally tough, it's because these 10 childhood realities shaped them early
The mental toughness we see in boomers today wasn't the result of careful parenting strategies or intentional character-building exercises.
By Lachlan Brown
Dec 8, 2025

I've noticed something about the baby boomer generation that's hard to ignore.

They seem to have a different kind of mental toughness than younger generations. Not better or worse, just different.

When life throws them curveballs, they tend to roll with the punches in a way that can seem almost effortless. They don't seem as rattled by setbacks or as thrown off by uncertainty.

And I think I know why.

The boomers grew up in a world that was fundamentally different from today. Their childhood experiences shaped them in ways that built resilience from the ground up.

Here are the childhood realities that forged their mental toughness.

1) Boomers grew up when "participation trophies" didn't exist
I remember talking to my neighbor, who's in his 70s, about youth sports today.

He chuckled when I mentioned how every kid on my son's soccer team gets a trophy at the end of the season, regardless of how they performed.

"Back in my day," he said, "you got a trophy if you won. Period."....

2) They walked or biked everywhere without adult supervision
I'll never forget the story my dad told me about his childhood commute to school.

Every morning at age seven, he'd walk twelve blocks through downtown Detroit to get to his elementary school. No parent escort, no carpool, no safety patrol - just him and his little legs navigating busy streets and strangers.

"Mom would watch me from the front porch until I turned the corner," he said. "After that, I was on my own."

This was completely normal for boomers.....

3) Entertainment meant creating your own fun
Boomers didn't have Netflix, video games, or smartphones to cure their boredom.

When they complained about having nothing to do, their parents didn't hand them a device or drive them to an activity. They were told to "go figure it out."

And figure it out they did.

4) Physical punishment was the norm, not the exception
Boomers grew up in an era where getting spanked wasn't considered controversial - it was just Tuesday....

5) Money was tight and kids knew it
Boomers weren't shielded from their family's financial reality.

When money was tight, parents didn't try to hide it or make excuses. Kids heard conversations about bills, budgets, and whether the family could afford certain things.

"We can't afford that" wasn't followed by guilt or lengthy explanations about why life was unfair. It was just a fact that kids learned to accept....

6) Death and loss weren't hidden from children

7) Mistakes were met with shame, not understanding

8) Boredom was actually encouraged

9) They were expected to contribute to the household from an early age

10) Emotional support meant "toughen up"

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