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dancingtongue · 80-89, M
Everything. I was bed ridden for four years so my mother had to stay home and be my caregiver/teacher rather than being a school teacher, which she enjoyed and we needed the income. They taught me to be self-reliant when I was capable, emphasized education, helped support me to the extent they could while I was in college while making clear it wasn't a blank check and I had to earn what I could as well. When I returned from a few months gadding about Europe after taking a European discharge from the Army, I landed at JRK Airport with literally enough in my pocket to place a collect call and they wired me the money for an airline ticket home. They loaned me the money (at a low interest rate) to buy my first car which I needed for my first real job. And when a German girl I had met was goi ng to be thrown into foster care because her single mom had to serve a year in jail for black market activity, they agreed to take care of her for the year.
Did we always get along? No. It was the 60's and the Great Generation Gap. But I was raised to believe it was OK to disagree and have different viewpoints, as long as you were also taking responsibility for your words and your actions. Tough love I believe it is called.
Did we always get along? No. It was the 60's and the Great Generation Gap. But I was raised to believe it was OK to disagree and have different viewpoints, as long as you were also taking responsibility for your words and your actions. Tough love I believe it is called.
Wiseacre · F
Well, ur a special case...ur dam lucky!@dancingtongue
JollyRoger · 70-79, M
@Wiseacre I agree @dancingtongue was lucky.... not many parents would have /could have extended him the moral and financial credit he received. BUT: The bottom line is that he showed responsibility! Not as dramatic, but in the same vein as his parents: I've had 2 instances where my young relatives needed to borrow money and they asked me... We did it by a ''promissry note'.... and by golly, they both returned the money and reaped the benefits of having had 'a hand-up' instead of a hand-out. Both are now responsible citizens.
dancingtongue · 80-89, M
@JollyRoger I have done the same for my sons and a couple of nieces. Pass it forward.
You see so little responsible parenting these days, imho. As with everything else in this digital age, it seems to be one extreme or the other: they want to be buddy buddy with their children so badly that they are totally permissive and the kids learn nothing about accountability, or they are so dictatorial that their kids natural curiosity and interests are killed by strangulation; the fear of doing anything that might aggravate. The other day I saw two young fathers bring their toddlers into the diner I frequent. The diner has a lot of interesting mementoes and things; the toddlers were naturally excited and curious. The fathers took turns riding herd as the toddlers did a little exploring, making sure they did not disturb any other diners, endanger themselves, or disrupt the restaurant, while their own coffee and food grew cold in turn. The kids obviously had been taught well , using only their inside voices, not attempting to be disruptive, just exploring their curiosity. I paid their check on the way out.
You see so little responsible parenting these days, imho. As with everything else in this digital age, it seems to be one extreme or the other: they want to be buddy buddy with their children so badly that they are totally permissive and the kids learn nothing about accountability, or they are so dictatorial that their kids natural curiosity and interests are killed by strangulation; the fear of doing anything that might aggravate. The other day I saw two young fathers bring their toddlers into the diner I frequent. The diner has a lot of interesting mementoes and things; the toddlers were naturally excited and curious. The fathers took turns riding herd as the toddlers did a little exploring, making sure they did not disturb any other diners, endanger themselves, or disrupt the restaurant, while their own coffee and food grew cold in turn. The kids obviously had been taught well , using only their inside voices, not attempting to be disruptive, just exploring their curiosity. I paid their check on the way out.