Origins

[JakeD]

What was your upbringing like?
Do you think that it affected you as a person?
If so, was it a positive or negative effect?

[love_tattoos]

I had a great childhood! There was nothing out of the ordinary about it though. We lived in a great neighborhood where everybody knew everybody and nobody worried about their kids playing outside without supervision. I hate that my kids don't have the same situation.

I don't know if it affected me as a person. I suppose it did. I strive for the same life I had as a child for my children because that's when I felt the safest. We live in a small town similar to where I grew up, but regardless of that, I still hate for my kids to be outside without me or my husband being out there to keep an eye on them.

[kittyroze]

I was raised by two hippies. One went to Stanford and was raised in a very uptight Asian influenced snobby family, the other was very intelligent and raised by an amazing father and a psychotic mother. At some point they lost their will to be 'wage slaves' and began to despise yuppie culture. With their powers combined, I was raised by passionate, eccentric, intelligent, talented folks. I love my childhood, but I will admit I will never have a good, open relationship with either of my units maternal and paternal. They never trusted me (accused me of drug use-which is actually something my dad was into I think, I was also accused of lots and lots of sleeping around and general no-good stuff...none of which I did). In reality I was a goody two-shoes, anal-retentive, and have always held myself to a higher standard than they did. Despite a few antics that were minor, I feel I have been the mom of the family, playing counselor to my parents during marital troubles for as long as I can remember. When I turned eight, they had my younger brother. As is normally the case of the first child, I've grown jealous of their lax take on his upbringing. I don't like having paved the way for him, as he is lazy and content to do NOTHING with his life but sit in front of a computer monitor. Anyway...Overall, I was never abused, had enough to eat and they provided me with a lot of opportunities to try a lot of different things. For that I am greatful.

As for how this has effected me as a person, when my family is in a good mood, the going joke is that I must have been adopted.

[Villager]

I was brought up in a fairly typical white English working class family. My dad worked (and does so to this day) in a local factory (just had a promotion as it happens) and my mother stayed at home and kept the house. We never had much money but things got easier for everyone when my sister and I were old enough to work and pay our own ways to an extent. The best thing about my upbringing was that I learnt what was truly important in life; not money and material wealth, but family and personal happiness. I have the best mom in the world.

[love_tattoos]

Villager - I totally serious when I ask this...............what makes her the best mom in the world?

[Villager]

Despite struggling for money for most of my childhood, I never went without anything. If it was physically possible my mum would do and has done whatever was needed. She taught me far more than I learned anywhere else - at school, socially, and has had a stronger influence on who I am than anyone else. She is everything a mother should be. Always there for me, wanting what's best for me, and yet not crowding me with her own desires. As a person, she has flaws, as a mother, she hit the nail on the head.


I mean.. just look at me.

;)

[love_tattoos]

She's done a great job as far as I can tell Villager. I was just curious what it takes to become "the best mom in the world." I struggle with how I parent my kids. I worry that they'll grow up and resent me or even worse, hate me. I just hope I'm raising good kids with good morals. I know they're going to screw up from time to time. I just hope I handle those screw ups the right way. I think my parents parented me and my sisters the right way. We're all responsible, respectful and all around good people, and we all think we hit the parent jackpot. I know my parents didn't have a lot of money when we were growing up either, but like you we never went without. I can't remember not getting what I wanted or what I needed. If my husband and I can be half the parents mine were, then I'll feel like we did the right thing.

[Andie]

I was spoiled rotten by my parents..Not with money or material things but with love and comfort. My parents are up the with Vill's..:)

[SysLord]

I can only second Andie and Villager's worlds. I have the best parents in the world and they are worth their weight in pure gold!

[SysLord]

Originally posted by kittyroze
As for how this has effected me as a person, when my family is in a good mood, the going joke is that I must have been adopted.

It seems that you have combined both your families' good traits but dropped the bad ones. Of how nature slowly works to perfection? :)

[kittyroze]

Flattery gets you everywhere :winkkiss:

[JakeD]

Or rejected.

[Jake]

I had a very good upbringing, and feel very very lucky. My parents are still ahppily married, I get along with all of my siblings for the most part and our family is still very close.

[Diva]

What was your upbringing like?

I had the typical dysfunctional life. My dad was one of the greatest fathers. He taught me so much and was my best friend.


Do you think that it affected you as a person?

I know that I am stronger because of it. Both the negative and positive events molded me.


If so, was it a positive or negative effect?

I think that it had a positive effect. I try to look at everything as a learning experience, rather than just good or bad. I am happy with where I am, for the most part, and I wouldnt have gotten this far without going through everything that I did.