When boomers insist we're the toughest generation, we're not bragging or punching down at our kids, we're quietly defending a childhood where nobody asked how we felt, nobody intervened, and being okay was the only option available - Silicon Canals

"When I was growing up, there was no safety net. Not talking about money here. Talking about everything else. Got bullied at school? Figure it out. Teacher yelling at you unfairly? Deal with it. Neighborhood kid twice your size using you as a punching bag? Better learn to run fast or hit back harder."

"You learned real quick that crying got you nowhere. Complaining made you weak. The only way through was to shut up and handle it."

"In my house, men didn't talk about feelings. Period. My father worked, came home, ate dinner, watched TV, went to bed. If he was stressed, angry, sad, worried: we never knew. He just carried it."

Childhood experiences shaped a generation that learned to cope without emotional support. Injuries were treated with indifference, and children were expected to resolve conflicts independently. Parents emphasized toughness over vulnerability, reflecting their own upbringing. There were no resources like counselors or anti-bullying initiatives, leading to a culture where expressing feelings was seen as weakness. Men in particular were taught to suppress emotions, creating a stoic environment where emotional struggles were hidden and not discussed.

Read at Silicon Canals