How would you describe your upbringing?
By Dianne Gray
@ncwdianne (87)
April 17, 2017 4:52pm CST
Was there plenty of money to spare? Or was it a real struggle? What do you think tried and true recommendation's that lead to a good childhood.
Me personally I had a very financially privileged childhood where my parents were quite well off. This did not lead to happiness. We were quite spoilt!
Mine was a very negative atmosphere with a mother with severe depression and a father with Bipolar. Thank goodness for my grandmother who was my mother more than my own mom. I have had to spend my whole adult years learning life. I hold nothing against my mom as she could not help her state of mind at the time. I have also forgiven my father. The upside is, I learned their mistakes in life and reversed them with my kids. My children know they are loved and appreciated. It has been hard training myself and my children at the same time. I am from a low income family. I have learnt the value of money and budgeting. I have learnt the difference between needs and wants.
3 people like this
4 responses
@Jackalyn (7558)
• Oxford, England
17 Apr 17
I came from an up and coming family. We had the first car in our road and as young children wanted for nothing. I was really surprised when my friends got second hand uniforms as mine was new.
Then my dad developed multiple sclerosis and lost his job.
At the time, it seemed like we were really poor. However it was short lived and I still got sent 9n holidays abroad with the school. Most of my friends did not go on all the trips. I did.
So I suspect all along we were better off than many.
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@ncwdianne (87)
•
17 Apr 17
@Jackalyn Did you feel loved by your parents? If you do not mind me asking?
@Jackalyn (7558)
• Oxford, England
18 Apr 17
@ncwdianne Yes although there was also emotional and some physical abuse. I think my dad had a lot of problems and thought it normal. It took me a long timr to heal.
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@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
17 Apr 17
I'm glad that you had your grandmother, they are so often the lifesavers of children!
I was quite poor although I did not realize it till I was a teen. Mom had her garden, as did my grandparents, and Dad hunted whatever was in season. I didn't know it till I was an adult but Dad was what they now call bipolar but then called manic-depressive and he was also schizophrenic. He was a loving father and husband but prone to deep depression and many time threw away his paychecks in the fire. So we had plenty to eat between the game, the garden, and my mom's parents who had cattle and butchered a steer each year to share with the family.
My grandparents were wonderful, too. In fact, whenever I was tempted as a teen to drink, smoke, or do mischief I stopped when I thought of how horrified and ashamed they would be if I go caught.
So I was poor and there was mental illness in the house but I was not aware of either and we were never lacking love. I feel as if I had a privileged childhood, not in money but in all the ways important. I feel so sorry for kids nowadays who don't know that feeling, who have both parents working and their grandparents and other family are so spread out.
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@ncwdianne (87)
•
17 Apr 17
That's good you had that provision there with the garden and your grandparents. I remember telling my mother what to to all the time and how to live her life. I do not tell her what to do now that my sisters job. I needed some distance.
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@paigea (36315)
• Canada
18 Apr 17
I had a pretty fun childhood. I grew up in the 50s, early 60s when the street was full of children to play with. We wanted for nothing but my parents were not extravagant either, so we were not spoiled.
We learned to work hard, take care of money and be frugal and to enjoy life and each other! Tried to imitate my parents when I raised my kids.
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