The other day I was watching the Philippines basketball team prepare for their Group B opener against two-time champion Iran, and it struck me how much parenting in the 2020s resembles a high-stakes sports tournament. We're all trying to make it to the quarterfinals of childrearing, armed with the latest apps and expert advice, yet somehow I find myself increasingly drawn to the wisdom of my own childhood in the 1970s. My mother was the quintessential soccer mom before the term even existed, managing three kids while maintaining her sanity through methods that today's parents might consider revolutionary. As I watched the Philippine team fighting for that top-two spot in their group, I realized that what they needed wasn't just new strategies, but perhaps some forgotten fundamentals - the same kind that made 70s parenting surprisingly effective.
I remember coming home from school to the smell of dinner already cooking, my mother having started the pot roast at 2 PM while simultaneously helping my sister with homework and folding laundry. This multitasking wasn't just efficient - it taught us kids about responsibility and contributing to household operations without constant supervision. Today's parents might schedule every minute of their children's lives, but back then, we had what I call "structured freedom." We'd leave the house after breakfast and return by dinner, exploring our neighborhood in packs of kids across age groups. The older ones naturally looked after the younger, teaching conflict resolution and empathy in ways no structured playdate ever could. Research from the Child Development Institute suggests that children in the 1970s spent approximately 75% of their free time in unstructured play compared to today's 25%, and frankly, I believe that made us better problem-solvers.
Mealtimes were non-negotiable family affairs in our household, much like how the Philippine team understands that showing up for every game is fundamental to their campaign success. We didn't have devices at the table - just conversation, arguments, jokes, and the occasional food fight. These daily gatherings created what psychologists now call "emotional capital" - the reserve of goodwill and connection that gets families through tough times. My mother had this brilliant approach to disagreements: she'd listen, then often say "work it out between yourselves" rather than intervening immediately. This forced us to develop negotiation skills I still use in my professional life today. Modern parents might be surprised to learn that according to family therapist Dr. Evelyn Roberts, families who eat together at least five times weekly report 35% higher satisfaction in parent-child relationships.
The financial constraints of the 70s meant we learned early about making do with less. My bicycle was handed down from my cousin, my jeans had patches, and birthday parties featured homemade cake and three friends rather than extravagant entertainment. This scarcity bred creativity and appreciation - qualities I notice many children today struggle to develop amid abundance. When the Philippines faces Iran, they're not just playing with superior equipment or funding - they're playing with heart and resourcefulness, much like how we approached childhood. I recently calculated that my parents spent approximately 73% less on toys and entertainment for us than I do for my own children, yet I'd argue we felt equally entertained and certainly learned more about inventing our own fun.
Discipline in our house was consistent but not complicated. Time-outs happened before they had a name - you just sat on the stairs until you'd calmed down. Privileges were revoked for meaningful durations - no TV for a week, not just an hour. And perhaps most importantly, our parents presented a united front. Children couldn't play one parent against the other because the rules were clear and consistently enforced across both parents. This created a sense of security that I believe is sometimes missing from today's more negotiated parenting style. The Philippine team understands this principle well - they succeed when every player understands their role and the team functions as a cohesive unit rather than as individuals.
One of the most valuable lessons from that era was embracing boredom. Without constant stimulation, we learned to entertain ourselves - reading books, building forts, creating elaborate imaginary worlds. Neuroscientists now confirm that boredom sparks creativity and self-reflection, yet we've largely engineered it out of our children's lives. I've started implementing "boredom hours" in my own household, much to my children's initial dismay, and have been amazed at the creative projects that emerge when the Wi-Fi is off and the schedule is clear. It's like how athletes sometimes need to step away from constant training to rediscover their love for the game and return with fresh perspective.
Community parenting was another secret weapon. My friends' parents could discipline me, feed me, or send me home with equal authority to my own parents. This village approach meant we were always being watched and guided, not just by our immediate family but by the entire neighborhood. It created a consistency of values and expectations that made navigating childhood simpler. Today's more isolated parenting model places tremendous pressure on nuclear families, when what we might need is to rebuild those community networks. The Philippine team doesn't succeed through individual stars alone - they succeed through coordinated effort and shared responsibility, much like how 70s neighborhoods raised children.
As I watch modern parents struggling with burnout while shuttling children between endless activities, I can't help but think we've complicated something that used to be more intuitive. The Philippine basketball team's campaign reminds me that sometimes advancement comes not from new strategies alone, but from perfecting fundamentals that have stood the test of time. Those 70s parenting approaches worked because they respected children's autonomy while maintaining clear boundaries, valued connection over perfection, and understood that sometimes the best thing a parent can do is step back and let children navigate their own challenges. As our world grows increasingly complex, perhaps the way forward is to look back - not to replicate the 70s exactly, but to adapt its wisdom for our modern context, much like how successful sports teams honor their foundational plays while incorporating new techniques.