Benjamin Spock: biography, personal life, author of "The Child and Care for Him"

Benjamin Spock is a famous pediatrician who wrote in 1946 a wonderful book "The Child and Care for Him." As a result, it 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 to take care of younger brothers and sisters. Therefore, he was used to raising children from childhood and taking care of them.

After graduation, Spock enrolled at Yale University, where he studied the English language and literature in depth. He loved to read a lot and regularly engaged in self-education. Plus, he had excellent physical data, and he began to get involved in sports. Benjamin even in 1924 played at the Olympic Games in rowing in France and won a gold medal. In the end, he became an Olympic champion and more than once pleased his family with his achievements.

Although Spock was well versed in languages and literature, he dreamed of becoming a doctor. He did it. At Yale, he went to medical faculties and in 1929 became a beginning physician. Nobody even suspected that in the future he would be known not only as a doctor, but also as a writer. That was Benjamin Spock. His biography is long, but we will touch upon the most important moments from his life.

Childhood

Benjamin Spock's mother carefully followed the children and brought up exactly as the family doctor advised. She did not give her babies a sweet minimum of up to 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 more enduring, stronger, have excellent health. Mildred Louise was not allowed to play with her neighbors. She demanded that they help her around the house.

Benjamin Spock recalled his childhood with some regret. After all, instead of having fun with peers, roller-coaching and running around the streets, he had to change diapers, prepare bottles for younger siblings, boil pacifiers, etc.

All six children were not afraid of their father, they always told him the truth and were consulted in everything. But my mother was very afraid and constantly lied, because she punished them for the slightest fault. After such education, Benjamin began to fear not only his parents, but also teachers, policemen and even animals. As the future doctor recalls, he was brought up as a moralist and snob. All his life he struggled with his character.

Spock spoke of the mother with fear and warmth at the same time. He said that his parent always knew what was best for her children, but she did not allow anyone to argue with her. When Benjamin was at school, his mother went to boarding school. She liked that there the children slept in the fresh air in any weather.

Personal life

While Spock was studying at the medical faculty, there was a very important event in his life. The future doctor brought the bride home. First, the parents took 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 to have a father at home who protected them from the hysteria of the parent. Moreover, the pope allocated a student's family 1,000 dollars a year. The personal life of Benjamin Spock was much more successful when he 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 from which family her daughter-in-law. It turned out that his father died of syphilis. However, the son did not take the side of his mother even after such a statement.

The moment came when Benjamin and his wife found out they were waiting for the 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 talking with their mother and left for New York, where the first practice in pediatrics began.

Benjamin and his family

In fact, the young man remained a psychological trauma from childhood. That is why in his adult life he was more demanding and cruel to his children. He had two sons, whom he madly loved, but could not show his tenderness. Very strict father was Benjamin Spock. Sons often avoided his company.

Once Spock confessed to journalists that he had never kissed his children. He was sure that the genes of mother played an important role. The young man could not overcome himself, which caused his sons to suffer greatly.

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 his fame and success, gradually began to drink. And in 1976 the family finally disintegrated. The doctor was then 73, but he decided to marry again.

Another year did not pass after the divorce, as Spock was ringed again. What is most interesting, his wife was 40 years younger, but loved the old man. Although some argued that it was more to fame than to her husband. As it turns out, the fate of Benjamin Spock was not easy. After all, he had to struggle all his life with his complex and harsh 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. That's why everyone was on his own. The youngest son was John, he became a famous architect. The elder Michael found his vocation in medicine, and it turned out that he followed in the footsteps of his father - became a doctor.

Spock did not know anything about the fate of his sons. He did not even marry them, as the customs required. After all, not a single son could forgive his father for his cruel treatment. 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, at Christmas (December 25), Peter committed suicide. He threw himself off the roof of the museum. For a long time they could not find the cause of Peter's act. As a result, it turned out that the 22-year-old boy had a chronic depression that 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 Michael's son tried to reconcile with his father, but he accused him of his grandson's depression.

Why Spock became a child's doctor

In fact, originally Benjamin dreamed of the sea and wanted to become a doctor on the ship. However, even in his youth, the future doctor read a lot about the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, who had a significant impact on his medical work. Then Spock realized that many childhood illnesses do not come by themselves. Much depends on education and way of life. Then he decided to become a pediatrician.

When young doctor Benjamin Spock began to receive children, he meticulously asked his parents how they were bringing up the kids. In the end, he made his conclusion. It turns out that it is necessary to educate parents first and 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 beginning 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 myself.

At that time, many parents believed that children should be prepared from an early age for a difficult adult life. Spock tried to persuade them not to take away their children from their children and did not chase the army schedule. After all, many people are strictly on schedule, all sorts of vagaries are punished with punishment. This can not be done, since the baby from the early childhood closes in himself, his psyche is disturbed.

Apparently, because Spock tried to educate his parents, his patients became less and less. Although journalists all the time wrote about him. As a result, the young doctor decided to write his first little book about the psychological aspects of pediatrics.

Education system

Since the doctor was devoid 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 Care for Him." The system of education of Benjamin Spock is built on parental love, and more - on the maternal.

The doctor argued that the behavior of the baby is completely dependent on adults. If they gave birth to him constantly being punished for the slightest fault, the child in the future becomes a psychologically unhealthy person. Hence, there are depressions, suicides and much more.

The pediatrician calls on parents to love their children and forgive them all. After all, no problem is worth the children's tears. The stick and the carrot are the ideal system of education in the family. Be sure to pay as much attention to your kids, and in the future they will repay you the same.

Benjamin Spock: books

The first edition of the doctor was called "Psychological aspects of pediatric practice." Here he told his parents about the psychoanalyst Freud, arguing that his parents should know about his teachings in order to properly educate and raise their babies.

Spock also published the book "Talking with the Mother." In it, he teaches parents to communicate with the child correctly, monitor their health, and temper them. In the same book, the basics of caring for kids are written.

The book "The child and his upbringing" tells about the methods of the carrot and the stick. After all, many parents still treat their crumbs incorrectly. That's why it will be useful to read it to both mom and dad.

In each book, the doctor focuses on careful education and care for kids. Do not forget that since childhood he has gone through such a school and can teach to understand children from an early age.

Another great book was written by Benjamin Spock - "The child and care for him." It is released in two parts, it became a bestseller. This book is used to this day throughout the world. There are many interesting utterances and wise advice that Dr. Benjamin Spock offered. "The child and care for him" is a book that teaches parents correctly not only to educate kids, but also to feed them, temper, entertain, communicate, etc.

The first edition of it was published in 1946. It began with the lines that no one knows the child better than his parents. The doctor called to trust only himself and his intuition, and not run around the doctors.

Reviews about the doctor and his books

Many mummies believe that Benjamin Spock is the ideal doctor who opens his parents' eyes to many trifles. For example, very few people know that a child can be fed with mother's milk for up to three years. After all, today doctors say the opposite, and many parents believe it.

Though there are also such mummies who consider that books from the last century are obsolete, they should not be paid attention. However, if you penetrate deeper, then the question arises as to why the children used to hurt 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 did not coward them like they are today. And this is the whole trouble. Just parents became different, and from this and everything else has changed. So says Dr. Spock.

How and when Benjamin died

The doctor did not die from a heart attack or stroke. He contracted cancer and needed expensive treatment. Then Michael, the eldest son, once again came to his father and offered his help. However, as expected, Spock abandoned his son's money. He said that he would die better than take help from the villain.

How Benjamin Spock died, like no one knows. His death came in 1998, on March 15. He was then 94 years old. Some believe that he died of old age, while others claim that he was defeated by cancer. My wife did not give an autopsy. I wanted to remember him that way. Apparently, there really was love between them.

Conclusion

Ironically, the doctor wrote many good books, thanks to which parents raise their children. However, Spock himself has never learned to love, respect and appreciate his children. Only when communicating with his grandson and other children did Benjamin understand his shortcomings, but he could not make up for them, since the 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 children, pay attention to them, and they will repay you in the same coin.