Sons and parents

[Eva Elisabeth]

Gene, Toia and Roger - thank you for these GREAT replies!

(01-07-2015 03:20 PM)RJNorton Wrote:  

(01-07-2015 01:08 PM)Gene C Wrote:  Don't want to over anaylize this, but Robert probably went through what most teens do. A bit embarrassed by their parents, a bit rebellious, and the son of a very famous person....Robert was just beginning to show his potential as an adult when his father died.

I think this is a good point.

A very good point!!!
As for Robert's conduct at Harvard I believe I just recently (was it in "The Last Lincolns"? I'll check tomorrow...) read that Abraham Lincoln threatened his son he (A.L.) would take him off if Robert didn't improve.

(01-07-2015 02:05 PM)LincolnToddFan Wrote:  AL taught them to love nature during walks in the woods. Corporal punishment was given to them but only rarely which must have been unique for those times. They were also encouraged to express themselves and to have their own opinions, VERY unique for 19th century children.

What about the kids/educational methods of the other characters in the Lincoln saga? Herndon taught (especially nature) and encouraged his children, too. He was not permissive, but did he make use of corporal punishment?
What about Fanny Seward's parental treatment and upbringing, Linda? Or Kate Chase's, Laurie?

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Another question: If the Lincolns' marriage had been as a terrible one as some authors believe this would probably have affected the children. Did the Lincolns' children/their behavior indicate or show signs of a strained family situation?