"I would say that the surest measure of a man's or a woman's maturity is the harmony, style, joy, and dignity he creates in his marriage, and the pleasure and inspiration he provides for his spouse."
- Benjamin Spock
Benjamin McLane Spock (May 2, 1903 – March 15, 1998) was an American pediatrician whose book Baby and Child Care, that was first released in 1946, is undoubtedly one of the biggest best-sellers of all time. Its precious message to all mothers is: You know more than you think you do.
Dr Spock was a famous pediatrician, who was the first pediatrician to study psychoanalysis to try to understand a child's emotional needs and family dynamics. His ideas about childcare influenced parents over several generations to be much more affectionate and flexible with their children. He believed that children, irrespective of their age, should treat them as individuals.
Spock advocated ideas about parenting that were harshly different from the norms those days. In those days it was believed to feed their children only on a regular schedule, and that parents should not pick them up, kiss them, or hug them, because that would not prepare them to be strong and independent individuals in a harsh world. Spock on the other hand encouraged parents to see their children as individuals, and not to apply a one-size-fits-all philosophy to them.
Along with his work pediatric work, Spock was an activist in the New Left and anti Vietnam War movements during 1960s and 70s.
Spock wrote three other books on Child Care and later brought out a book titled Dr. Spock on Vietnam and co-wrote an autobiography titled Spock on Spock, in which he propagated a new philosophy towards aging: Delay and Deny.
Other writers, Lynn Bloom and Thomas Maier, have also written biographies of Spock.
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