Benjamin Spock is a famous pediatrician who wrote in 1946 a wonderful book "The Child and the Care of Him". As a result, it became a bestseller. Few people know about Benjamin Spock himself, his biography and personal life. From this article you will learn all the details about the famous doctor.
Benjamin Spock: biography (briefly)
In New Haven, 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 Mildred's mother Louise take care of her younger brothers and sisters. Therefore, he was used to raising children and taking care of them from an early age.
After graduating from high school, Spock entered Yale University, where he studied English language and literature in depth. He liked to read a lot and was regularly engaged in self-education. Plus, he had excellent physical data, and he began to get involved in sports. Benjamin even in 1924 competed at the Olympic Games in rowing in France and won a gold medal. As a result, he became an Olympic champion and more than once pleased his family with hisachievements.
Although Spock was well versed in languages and literature, he dreamed of becoming a doctor. He succeeded. At Yale, he went to medical school and in 1929 became an aspiring physician. 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 watched the children and brought them up exactly as the family doctor advised. She did not give her babies sweets until at least 5 years old. It was believed that not only the teeth, but also the internal organs of the child deteriorated.
In the Spock family, all the children slept outside, under a canopy, regardless of the weather. The doctor said that from this the children become more resilient, stronger, have excellent he alth. Mildred Louise wouldn't let her play with the neighborhood kids. She demanded help around the house.
Benjamin Spock recalled his childhood with some regret. After all, instead of having fun with peers, riding slides and running around the streets, he had to change diapers, prepare bottles for his younger brothers and sisters, boil pacifiers, etc.
All six children were not afraid of their father, they always told him the truth and consulted in everything. But they were very afraid of my mother and constantly lied, because she punished them for the slightest offense. After such an upbringing, Benjamin became afraid not only of his parents, but also of teachers, policemen and even animals. As the future doctor recalls,he was brought up to be a moralist and a snob. All his life he struggled with his character.
Spock spoke of his mother with fear and warmth at the same time. He said that his parent always knew what was best for her children, and she 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 slept outdoors in any weather.
Private life
While Spock was in medical school, a very important event happened in his life. The future doctor brought home the bride. At first, the parents accepted the girl well. However, when Benjamin and his fiancée closed in the room, my mother tried to fake a heart attack. But the guy and the girl were very lucky that there was a father 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 more successful when he got married. After all, he could no longer obey his parents, but be an independent person.
Mildred Louise was very offended by her son that he decided to marry without her advice. So she decided to find out what family her daughter-in-law came from. It turned out that the father died of syphilis. However, the son, even after such a statement, did not take the side of the mother.
The moment came when Benjamin and his wife found out they were expecting a baby. However, the newborn died, and the mother could not remain silent, she expressed her opinion. She said that their sexual relationship leads to serious consequences due to Benjamin's father-in-law, who was infectedsyphilis.
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 had a psychological trauma since childhood. That is why in adulthood he was more demanding and cruel to his children. He had two sons, whom he loved madly, but could not show his tenderness. Benjamin Spock was a very strict father. His sons often avoided his company.
Spock once admitted to reporters that he never kissed his children. He was sure that his mother's genes played an important role. The young man could not overcome himself, which made his sons suffer greatly.
For a long time the family lived calmly and measuredly. However, there came a time when Spock became a very famous doctor. As a result, his wife became jealous of his 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 remarry.
Not even a year after the divorce, Spock was ringed again. 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 fight with his complex and tough character.
Benjamin and sons
The children were very offended by their father, so they did not want to communicate with him, and he did not seek to become close to them. Exactlyso everyone was on their own. The youngest son was named John, he became a famous architect. The elder Michael found his calling in medicine, and it turned out that he followed in his father's footsteps - 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 ever forgive his father for his cruel attitude towards himself. However, it so happened that Spock began to communicate with the son of 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 25), Peter committed suicide. He jumped off the roof of the museum. For a long time they could not find the reason for Peter's act. As a result, it turned out that the 22-year-old boy had advanced chronic depression, which he could not cope with. After this incident, Benjamin had a heart attack, which ended first with a heart attack, and then with a stroke. That's when son Michael tried to make peace with his father, but he accused him of his grandson's depression.
Why Spock became a pediatrician
In fact, initially Benjamin dreamed of the sea and wanted to become a ship's doctor. However, even in his youth, the future doctor read a lot about the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, who had a significant impact on his medical practice. It was then that Spock realized that many childhood illnesses do not come on their own. Much depends on upbringing and lifestyle. That's when he decided to become a pediatrician.
When young doctor Benjamin Spock began to accept children, he meticulously asked parents howthey are raising kids. In the end, he made his own conclusion. It turns out that it is necessary to educate parents first, not children. When mom and dad learn the right behavior, then they will be able to communicate with the kids.
What Spock taught his parents
The beginner pediatrician claimed that the child is a person. You can't insult him, especially in public. The doctor taught parents the basics of upbringing, asked them not to force the child to help around the house. After all, I experienced this nightmare.
At that time, many parents believed that children should be prepared from an early age for a difficult adult life. Spock urged them not to take their childhood away from their little ones and chase after the army schedule. After all, many feed strictly on schedule, all sorts of whims are suppressed with the help of punishment. This cannot be done, since the baby closes in on himself from early childhood, his psyche is disturbed.
Apparently, because Spock tried to raise his parents, he had fewer and fewer patients. Although journalists wrote about him all the time. As a result, the young doctor decided to write his first small book about the psychological aspects of pediatrics.
Education system
Since the doctor was deprived of motherly love, and he himself suffered that he could not give tenderness to his sons, he wrote a wonderful book called "The Child and Care for Him." Benjamin Spock's upbringing system is built on parental love, and more on motherly love.
The doctor claimed that the behavior of the babycompletely dependent on adults. If he was born, he is constantly punished for the slightest offense, the child in the future becomes a psychologically unhe althy person. This is where depression, suicide and more come from.
Pediatrician urges parents to love their children and forgive them everything. After all, no problem is worth children's tears. The stick and the carrot is the ideal parenting system. Be sure to pay as much attention to your little ones as possible, and in the future they will repay you in the same way.
Benjamin Spock: Books
The doctor's first edition was called Psychological Aspects of Pediatric Practice. Here he told his parents about the psychoanalyst Freud, arguing that parents should know about his teachings in order to properly educate and raise their babies.
Spock has also released a book, Talking to Mother. In it, he teaches parents how to properly communicate with the child, monitor he alth, temper. The same book contains the basics of caring for babies.
The book "The child and his upbringing" talks about the methods of carrots and sticks. After all, many parents still treat their crumbs incorrectly. That is why it will be useful for both mom and dad to read it.
In each book, the doctor focuses on the careful upbringing and care of babies. Do not forget that he went through such a school from childhood and can teach children to understand from an early age.
Another wonderful book written by Benjamin Spock - "The Child and Care". It was released in two parts and became a bestseller. This book is still used all over the world today. It hasmany entertaining sayings and wise advice offered by Dr. Benjamin Spock. “Child and care for him” is a book that teaches parents not only to properly raise babies, but also to feed them, temper, entertain, communicate, etc.
It was first printed in 1946. It began with the lines that no one knows a child better than his parents. The doctor urged to trust only yourself and your intuition, and not run to the doctors.
Reviews about the doctor and his books
Many mothers believe that Benjamin Spock is the perfect doctor who opens the eyes of parents to many little things. For example, few people know that a child can be breastfed for up to three years. Because doctors today say otherwise, and many parents believe it.
Although there are some mothers who think 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 children used to get sick less. 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 children and were not afraid of them the way they are today. And that's the trouble. It’s just that the parents became different, and from this everything else has changed. So says Dr. Spock.
How and when Benjamin died
The doctor's death was not from a heart attack or stroke. He developed 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. Said he'd rather die than accept help from a scoundrel.
How Benjamin Spock died, no one knows for sure. His death came in 1998, on March 15. He was then 94 years old. Some believe that he died of old age, others claim that he was allegedly defeated by cancer. My wife didn't let me do an autopsy. I wanted to remember him like this. Apparently, there really was love between them.
Conclusion
Oddly enough, but the doctor has written many good books, thanks to which parents raise their children. However, Spock himself never learned to love, respect and appreciate his children. Only when communicating with his grandson and other children, Benjamin realized his shortcomings, but could not make up for them, as time had already been lost.
Read the famous doctor's books and they will teach you to feel your children even more. Love your little ones, pay attention to them, and they will repay you in kind.
