– Those were the days – we often hear during family meetings with grandmothers and uncles. Many people remember the years of the Polish People’s Republic with a smile. Others say they are “rightfully gone.” It cannot be denied that a lot has changed over the past few decades. Also in our behaviors that used to be commonplace. Today, many people shake their heads just thinking about it. What did it look like for us and our interlocutors?
Life in the times of the Polish People’s Republic. “No one was hurt and everyone was alive”
I grew up during the Polish People’s Republic in a village where there was no school. We had to walk there ourselves, first 2 km to grades 1-3, and over 5 km from grades 4 to 8. And we went alone, usually with a group of friends, our parents didn’t take us anywhere. It wouldn’t work now! Imagine little 7-year-old children alone through the forest, in winter or in a rainy autumn. Nobody cared about it back then, it was completely normal!
– said Bożena. Iwona, in turn, added: – The children walked around the city alone until late, without any supervision, they bathed in the river and slipped on thin ice. We played on the train tracks. Or we made bases on construction sites or trees. We lit fires and threw things into them. Today, see a child with a match, your blood pressure immediately increases.
There was nothing wrong with anyone and everyone was alive. Happy, healthy kids. Hardly anyone went to see doctors. Now there are times when healthy children are an exception
– wrote one of our readers.
“My father sent me to the store to buy beer or vodka”
Our interlocutors also touched on the topic of raising children. A lot has also changed in this respect, both in terms of feeding and daily activities. The children ate what was available and consistent with current knowledge. When expanding the diet, vegetable pulp and semolina dominated. Today – to the dismay of mothers-in-law – pieces are also served (properly prepared, soft, of course). In difficult moments, pacifiers were used, and when children rejected them, tricks were used:
They used to soak pacifiers in sugar
– wrote our reader. We have also often heard about dipping them in alcohol to make the child “sleep better”. However, it cannot be said that this was common practice. Just like smoking cigarettes in the presence of children. And speaking of stimulants, our interlocutor Jerzy shared his memory with us:
When I was 8-9 years old, my father sometimes sent me to the store to buy beer or vodka. It also happened that I bought some cigarettes. All he had to do was write a note and show it to the saleswoman. Now even if it was allowed, I don’t think parents would do such things.
What else was done differently? “Covering the stroller with diapers, especially in summer, in strong sunlight,” added another commenter. Today, people strongly warn against this. This is because there is no air flow inside the stroller. The sun may not be shining on your face, but the temperature inside can be really high. Let’s mention one more thing. Today, for many people, changing a baby’s diaper without using disposable diapers is a dream. A few decades ago, there was no option because diapers were a luxury good. The norm was to change diapers several or a dozen times a day, using only cloth diapers that had to be washed regardless of their contents.
It should be remembered that certain issues that may make you dizzy today were often the result of scientific reports that were current at that time. And these change even several times a year. Without a doubt, conditions in the times of the Polish People’s Republic were really difficult. However, people coped perfectly and did what they could to make life better.
Parents living in those times, with very limited opportunities, were geniuses in raising children
– wrote our reader. And we sign it with our hands and feet.
Source: Gazeta
Bruce is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment . He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
