Benjamin Spock is a well-known pediatrician who wrote in 1946 a wonderful book, "The Child and His Care." As a result, she became a bestseller. Few people know about Benjamin Spock himself, his biography and his personal life. From this article you will learn all the details about the famous doctor.
Benjamin Spock: biography (briefly)
In New Haven, the family of the famous lawyer Ives Spock had six children. The eldest of them was born on May 2, 1903. It was Benjamin Spock, who had to help mom Mildred Louise look after her younger brothers and sisters. Therefore, he is used to raise children and take care of them from an early age.
After graduating from school, Spock entered Yale University, where he studied English and literature in depth. He loved to read a lot and regularly studied self-education. Plus, he had excellent physical characteristics, and he became interested in sports. Benjamin, even in 1924, spoke at the Olympic rowing games in France and won a gold medal. As a result, he became the Olympic champion and more than once pleased the family with his achievements.
Although Spock was well versed in languages and literature, he dreamed of becoming a physician. He did it. At Yale, he went to medical faculties and in 1929 became a novice doctor. No one suspected that in the future he would be a famous not only doctor, but also a writer. That was Benjamin Spock. His biography is long, but we will touch on the most important moments from his life.
Childhood
Benjamin Spock's mother carefully monitored the children and brought up exactly as the family doctor advised. She did not give her kids sweets for at least 5 years. It was believed that not only the teeth deteriorate, but also the internal organs of the child.
In Spock's family, all the children slept on the street, under a canopy, regardless of the weather. The doctor said that from this, children become sturdier, stronger, have excellent health. Mildred Louise did not allow playing with neighboring children. She demanded that they help her around the house.
Benjamin Spock remembered his childhood with some regret. Indeed, instead of having fun with his peers, riding a roller coaster and running around the streets, he had to change diapers, prepare bottles for his younger brothers and sisters, boil soothers, etc.
All six children were not afraid of his father, they always told him the truth and consulted in everything. But mother was very afraid and constantly lied, because she punished them for the slightest offense. After such an education, Benjamin became afraid not only of his parents, but also of teachers, police officers and even animals. As the future doctor recalls, he was raised as a moralist and snob. All his life he struggled with his character.
Spock about his mother responded with fear and warmth at the same time. He said that his parent always knew what was best for her children, and did not allow anyone to argue with her. When Benjamin was in school, his mother passed him to a boarding school. She liked that there the children sleep in the fresh air in any weather.
Personal life
While Spock was in medical school, a very important event happened in his life. The future doctor brought the bride home. At first, the parents accepted the girl well. However, when Benjamin and the bride closed in the room, mom tried to portray a heart attack. But the guy with the girl was lucky that the father was at home, who protected them from the hysteria of the parent. Moreover, dad gave the student family $ 1,000 a year. Benjamin Spock's personal life was much better when he got married. After all, he could no longer obey his parents, but be an independent person.
Mildred Louise was very offended by his son that he decided to marry without her advice. Therefore, she decided to find out from which family her daughter-in-law. It turned out that his father died of syphilis. However, the son, even after such a statement, did not side with his mother.
There came a time when Benjamin and his wife found out that they were expecting a baby. However, the newborn died, and my mother could not remain silent, she expressed her opinion. She said that their sexual relationship leads to serious consequences because of Benjamin's father-in-law, who was infected with syphilis.
After such a statement, Benjamin and his wife stopped communicating with their mother and left for New York, where the first practice in pediatrics began.
Benjamin and his family
In fact, the young man has remained psychological trauma since childhood. That is why he in adulthood was more demanding and cruel to his children. He had two sons, whom he madly loved, but could not show his tenderness. A very strict father was Benjamin Spock. Sons often avoided his company.
Once Spock admitted to reporters that he had never kissed his children. He was sure that the mother’s genes played an important role. The young man could not overpower himself, which made his sons very suffering.
For a long time the family lived calmly and measuredly. However, the time came when Spock became a very famous doctor. As a result, his wife became jealous of him for fame and success, gradually began to drink too much. And in 1976 the family finally broke up. The doctor was then 73 years old, but he decided to marry again.
Not even a year had passed after the divorce, as Spock was again ringed. What is most interesting, his wife was 40 years younger, but she loved the old man. Although some claimed that she was drawn more to fame than to her husband. As it turns out, the fate of Benjamin Spock was not easy. After all, all his life he had to struggle with his complex and tough character.
Benjamin and Sons
The children were very offended by the father, so they did not want to communicate with him, and he did not seek to become close to them. That is why everyone was on their own. The youngest son was named John, he became a famous architect. Elder Michael found his calling in medicine, and it turned out that he followed in the footsteps of his father - he became a doctor.
Spock knew nothing about the fate of his sons. He did not even marry them, as custom required. After all, not a single son could forgive his father for being cruel to himself. However, it so happened that Spock began to communicate with his son Michael, whose name was Peter. In it, he found an outlet and gave his unspent love only to his grandson.
In 1983, on Christmas Day (December 25th), Peter committed suicide. He threw himself from the roof of the museum. For a long time they could not find the reason for Peter's deed. As a result, it turned out that the 22-year-old boy had advanced chronic depression, which he could not control. After this incident, Benjamin had a heart attack, which ended with a heart attack and then a stroke. That's when son Michael tried to make peace with his father, but he accused him of depressing his grandson.
Why Spock became a pediatrician
In fact, initially Benjamin dreamed about the sea and wanted to become a doctor on a ship. However, in his youth, the future doctor read a lot about the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, who had a significant influence on his medical work. Spock then realized that many childhood illnesses did not come on their own. Much depends on education and lifestyle. Then he decided to become a pediatrician.
When the young doctor Benjamin Spock began to accept children, he meticulously questioned his parents how they raised their babies. As a result, he concluded. It turns out that you need to educate primarily parents, not children. When mom and dad learn the right behavior, then they can communicate with the kids.
What Spock taught parents
The novice pediatrician claimed that the child is a person. It can not be insulted, especially in public. The doctor taught parents the basics of education, asked through force not to force the child to help around the house. After all, I experienced this nightmare on myself.
At that time, many parents believed that children should be prepared for a difficult adult life from an early age. Spock persuaded them not to take their childhood from their kids and not to chase the army schedule. After all, many feed strictly on schedule, all sorts of whims are suppressed by punishment. This can not be done, since the baby closes in himself from early childhood, his psyche is disturbed.
Apparently, because Spock was trying to raise his parents, his patients became less and less. Although the journalists wrote about him all the time. As a result, the young doctor decided to write his first little book about the psychological aspects of pediatrics.
Parenting system
Since the doctor was deprived of maternal love, and he himself suffered that he could not give tenderness to his sons, he wrote a wonderful book called "The Child and His Care". The education system of Benjamin Spock is built on parental love, and more - on maternal.
The doctor argued that the behavior of the baby is completely dependent on adults. If you give birth to him constantly punished for the slightest offense, the child in the future becomes a psychologically unhealthy person. From here come depression, suicide, and more.
The pediatrician encourages parents to love their children and forgive them all. After all, not a single problem is worth children's tears. Gingerbread and carrot is an ideal family education system. Be sure to pay as much attention as possible to your babies, and in the future they will repay you the same.
Benjamin Spock: books
The first edition of the doctor was entitled "Psychological aspects of pediatric practice." Here he told his parents about Freud's psychoanalyst, arguing that parents should know about his teachings in order to properly educate and raise their kids.
Spock also released The Conversation with Mother. In it, he teaches parents to properly communicate with the child, monitor their health, and temper. In the same book the basics of caring for babies are written.
The book "The Child and His Education" talks about the methods of carrot and stick. After all, many parents are still wrong about their babies. That is why it will be useful to read it to both mom and dad.
In each book, the doctor focuses on the careful upbringing and care of the kids. Do not forget that he went through such a school from childhood and can teach children to understand from a very young age.
Another great book was written by Benjamin Spock - "The Baby and His Care." It was released in two parts, became a bestseller. This book is used to this day throughout the world. It has many entertaining sayings and wise suggestions that Dr. Benjamin Spock offered. “The Child and His Care” is a book that teaches parents not only how to raise their babies, but also how to feed, temper, entertain, socialize, etc.
Her first print run was published in 1946. It began with lines that no one knows the child better than his parents. The doctor called to trust only himself and his intuition, and not to run around the doctors.
Reviews about the doctor and his books
Many mothers believe that Benjamin Spock is an ideal doctor who opens parents' eyes to many little things. For example, few people know that a child can be fed breast milk for up to three years. Indeed, today doctors say the opposite, and many parents believe this.
Although there are mothers who believe that books from the last century are outdated, you should not pay attention to them. However, if you penetrate deeper, then the question arises of why the children were less sick earlier. Many will say that the ecology is different, but we must not forget that once there was a different diet, they were not afraid to temper the children and did not coward over them as they do today. And this is the whole trouble. Parents just became different, and from this, everything else has changed. So says Dr. Spock.
How and when did Benjamin die?
The doctor did not die from a heart attack or stroke. He got cancer and needed expensive treatment. Then Michael, the eldest son, once again came to his father and offered his help. However, as expected, Spock refused his son's money. He said that he would rather die than accept help from a villain.
How Benjamin Spock died, no one really knows. His death occurred in 1998, March 15. He was then 94 years old. Some believe that he died of old age, others claim that cancer allegedly defeated him. The wife did not give an autopsy. I wanted to remember him like that. Apparently, there really was a love between them.
Conclusion
Oddly enough, but the doctor wrote a lot of good books, thanks to which parents raise their children. However, Spock himself never learned to love, respect, and value his children. Only when communicating with his grandson and other children, Benjamin realized his shortcomings, but could not make up for them, since time had already been lost.
Read the books of the famous doctor, and they will teach you to feel your children even more. Love your kids, pay attention to them, and they will repay you with the same coin.