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"Back in my day, we used to walk 5 miles to school in sub-zero temperatures without batting an eyelid. Not like you spoiled little brats these days!" We all have an older relative who says things like this about raising kids. They are despairing the coddled youth with their smartphones, crappy music, and parents that seemingly can't say no to their every demand.

And you know what? They might actually have a point on the parenting styles of today. Although the world might seem like a more dangerous place now with higher safety standards required, kids of previous generations had to make their own entertainment. They had to learn to look after themselves from a younger age and take far more risks while doing so. Parents didn't have things like Mumsnet to help them with parenting tips, alternatively, guilt and stress them out for letting kids go out of the safe environments and learn from their own mistakes.

To celebrate the eccentric approaches of old-school parenting and child safety, we here at Bored Panda have put together a list of parents and their kids doing things that would horrify the mommy and daddy bloggers and Instagrammers of today. What's your opinion on the evolution of parenting over the years? Scroll down below to check out the vintage photos for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!

#1

Me Back In 1991 Just Your Typical Aussie Kid Drinking Xxxxlight Beer(I Wasn't Aloud Heavies Back Then) And Holding A Baby Crocodile

Me Back In 1991 Just Your Typical Aussie Kid Drinking Xxxxlight Beer(I Wasn't Aloud Heavies Back Then) And Holding A Baby Crocodile

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#2

My Mother And Grandmother Demonstrating Safety Standards In The 1960s

My Mother And Grandmother Demonstrating Safety Standards In The 1960s

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#3

If Your Mum Didn't Lay On The Ground Making Herself Into A Ramp For Your New BMX, Did She Even Love You? 1980's

If Your Mum Didn't Lay On The Ground Making Herself Into A Ramp For Your New BMX, Did She Even Love You? 1980's

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#4

California Marijuana Initiative Rally 1972. That’s Me In The Box And My Parents In The Picture

California Marijuana Initiative Rally 1972. That’s Me In The Box And My Parents In The Picture

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#5

My Dad And His Veterinarian Mother, With Their Pet Lion Which They Raised For Two Years, 1959

My Dad And His Veterinarian Mother, With Their Pet Lion Which They Raised For Two Years, 1959

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#6

Princess Yvonne And Prince Alexander In Germany, 1955

Princess Yvonne And Prince Alexander In Germany, 1955

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#7

A Couple Ice Skating With Their Baby, 1937

A Couple Ice Skating With Their Baby, 1937

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#8

Infant Me, My Mother & Father At A Bar Because That's How Parents Rolled In The Early '80s

Infant Me, My Mother & Father At A Bar Because That's How Parents Rolled In The Early '80s

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Aaron W
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hung in bars too when I was little. Then they wouldn't let me back in until I was 20 - I must have been a rough toddler.

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#9

The Pinnacle Of Parenting: 1930s Swimming Lesson

The Pinnacle Of Parenting: 1930s Swimming Lesson

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Bobby's Girl
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My father threw me into Tampa Bay. I was about 3 years old. I learned to swim in a hurry, because there were scary things swimming around in that water! Google "Horseshoe Crab" and you'll understand.

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#10

Car Seat Safety In 1958. Not Strapped In To Anything, These Seats Relied On The Mother To Put Her Arm Out And Stop The Baby From Falling Forward

Car Seat Safety In 1958. Not Strapped In To Anything, These Seats Relied On The Mother To Put Her Arm Out And Stop The Baby From Falling Forward

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#11

My Hilarious Father (With The Magazine) And My Grandfather, Grandmother, And Uncle At His Bar Mitzvah In 1972

My Hilarious Father (With The Magazine) And My Grandfather, Grandmother, And Uncle At His Bar Mitzvah In 1972

JasonPlatz Report

#12

My Mother-In-Law Riding A Bear At 2 Years Old

My Mother-In-Law Riding A Bear At 2 Years Old

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#13

Harley With A Baby Seat, 1962

Harley With A Baby Seat, 1962

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Monika Soffronow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Safety first! Remember to properly attach the baby seat with the convenient succion cups to the gas tank before putting your baby in it.

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#14

A Photo Of Me Dressed Up As My Dad, With My Dad (1982)

A Photo Of Me Dressed Up As My Dad, With My Dad (1982)

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#15

My Dad Showing Off His Parenting Skills 1985

My Dad Showing Off His Parenting Skills 1985

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karen snyder
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And his Awesome fashion choices. Cut off tummy top, micro running shorts and Sears Roebuck velcro kicks was my go to in '85 too! but he tops it off with that cherry Tom Selleck stash. Your dad is a legend.

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#16

My Mom In The Hospital After Giving Birth To My Sister. Canada 1978. Smokes And Roasted Chicken

My Mom In The Hospital After Giving Birth To My Sister. Canada 1978. Smokes And Roasted Chicken

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Shelp
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Excuse my ignorance, but ... What is wrong with chicken?

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Luis Milian
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

chicken with milk and a smoke after giving birth. this is the true title...lol

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Patricia Rix
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had 3 babies in Canada in the '70s: great food, back rubs at bedtime, a beer with supper every day for nursing moms.

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Non-New-Toni-An
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol, when my Mom was born my Nan was given a cigarette and my Mom a teaspoon of whiskey. This was in '63.

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Gracie Mae
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People were smoking AND drinking while pregnant at least through the 60s and nothing was thought of it. then science and studies happened. it's a miracle some of us are alive...

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Fred Burrows
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember dragging my I.V. pole to the waiting area to have a smoke .

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Maggie Collins
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had my boy in 1966 in Salt Lake City, UT., at the LDS Hospital. I smoked the minute I was in my own room. There was an ashtray on the side table! And I was in the hospital for 4 1/2 days for a regular birth! Ah those were the days! But a Mormon hospital!? Crazy! At the time I didn't think anything of it. But today it is shocking to me.

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Gregg V
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Smokes after sex and birth - why the hell not? Baby elsewhere!

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Steve Cruz
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I had an emergency appendectomy in third grade and remember waking up and my mom was asleep, and there was a gigantic ashtray filled with butts. The doctor and some of the nurses smoked, too. Hello 70s.

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Krysta Pandoo
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

God she looks great after having a baby. Maybe there's something to having roast chicken after giving birth.

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Carlota Ocón
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mother had a burger right after giving birth, I think today we go a little crazy with all those rules

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debrina blackmoon
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my hubs brought me Burger King each time cuz that hospital did not serve meat

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Ruth Baldwin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Where was my roast chicken?! Surely I'd earned that after a 25 hour labour - all I got in 1986 was a cup of tea and two slices of dry toast!

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JV
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well she sure looks good for someone who gave birth like, what, two days before? I looked like a trainwreck.

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Slinkman
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, she isn't eating chicken and smoking while being pregnant. I think she is happy she can finally do these things again. Well deserved though, pooping out a baby is not an easy thing to do (so i've heard :p).

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Vicki Hall
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I haven’t looked that good since my twins were born two years ago. Sooo I am now massively depressed and think I’ll go have a smoke.

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Sophia Christina
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is your Mom a member of the Royal Family? 'Cause she looks ready for the "just gave birth and I look amazing" photoshoot.

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Maria Thomsen
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is it in someway possibly to find the woman on this picture...she looks exactly like my mom and I!!😳😅

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Maggie Collins
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I gave birth in 1966 in S.L.C, UT., at the LDS Hospital, owned by the Mormon Church. The first thing I did back in my room was light up a smoke. There was an ashtray on the side table. It seems shocking to me today, but at the time I thought nothing of it. We smoked everywhere in those days. Yeah, I don't get the chicken thing either, maybe it's because there is so much of it.

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Maggie Lambert
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember being able to smoke in the hospital - and while in maternity ward! Never saw a whole roasted chicken though! Still, the meals were better prepared and tasted better than the c**p they feed us today!

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Linda Robinett
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Great food in the hospital. Yep, smoking was OK everywhere when I was a kid

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Donald Holder*Doc
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I could go for the roasted chicken, but you try lighting a cigarette anywhere within a hospital and you're toast.

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Matthew Hignite
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

at least it wasn't fish fish can kill unborn children and really young children

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#17

Back In The Day. 1950s To Be Exact. Checkout That Car Seat

Back In The Day. 1950s To Be Exact. Checkout That Car Seat

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#18

My Mom Showing Off Her Parenting Skills 1978

My Mom Showing Off Her Parenting Skills 1978

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#19

Me, 1958, Relaxing After My Bath With Toby, I Was Never Again This Cool

Me, 1958, Relaxing After My Bath With Toby, I Was Never Again This Cool

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#20

13 Y/O Dad Having A Taste While The Grownups Are Busy Playing Cards; Upstate New York, August 1954

13 Y/O Dad Having A Taste While The Grownups Are Busy Playing Cards; Upstate New York, August 1954

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#21

My Father And His Pet Lion Priscilla, California 1970's

My Father And His Pet Lion Priscilla, California 1970's

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#22

My Adorable (4 Year Old) Mother At A Zoo In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 1970

My Adorable (4 Year Old) Mother At A Zoo In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 1970

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#23

Just A Photo Of Yours Truly (At 11 Years) Petting A Full Grown Tiger. My Mom Calls It Her "Bad Parenting Moment"

Just A Photo Of Yours Truly (At 11 Years) Petting A Full Grown Tiger. My Mom Calls It Her "Bad Parenting Moment"

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Monika Soffronow
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

From the infamous Thai temple tiger farm. https://www.traffic.org/news/thai-seizure-of-a-dozen-captive-tigers-resurrects-farming-threat/

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