My Mom was only offered very gender specific toys. 

My sisters and I were offered different types of toys and allowed to choose for ourselves. 

Her experiences growing up greatly affected her parenting.

My mom stated in our interview that she think's ''overall children’s identities are constructed through a mix of personal exploration and external influences. Children face unique challenges, like managing digital life's, balancing cultural expectations, and navigating new gender norms. At the same time, they benefit from greater diversity and awareness, giving them more tools to define themselves. Identity is built in childhood is now a dynamic process shaped by a constantly evolving world but in the world today it is definitely getting better.''

it shows how time and generational changes have redefined childhood, from how kids spend their time to how adults view and guide them. Advances in technology, evolving societal expectations, peer pressure and shifts in parenting styles have created a childhood that’s more structured, supervised, and connected to the digital world. The discourse around childhood has moved from seeing it as a carefree phase to one filled with concerns about safety, development, and preparation for the future .

For example My mom stated that her brother lived the life that Gen X is known for on social media. Would leave the house in the morning on his bike and not return until the street light came on in the evening. I would have to go a friend's house to have the same experience.While I did get to have the experiences, my life at home was much more structured than my brother's, I had things I needed to do and a deep feeling of guilt if I left my mom to do everything by herself.

''Play, in this discourse, is not about pleasure, anarchy, irrationality or mischief; it is about learning, rationality and ensuring the correct development of the child''.(pg124)