What did your parents get right?

[BroccoliSpears]

I've been guilty of dwelling a bit recently on the things I wish my parents had done differently. Silly. So, insead I shall think about the things they got right.

The main thing they got right was to instill in me a sense of confidence when meeting and chatting to people. I can cheerfully introduce myself to a room full of strangers, happily make small talk and am never phased by new social situations. As children, we were always taken along to social things, and were expected to speak up and answer nicely when spoken to. A good thing, I think, and something I hope to pass on to dd.

How about you? I'd love to hear other people's positive stories about what they are grateful to their parents for getting right.

I never for one second doubted that they loved me.

They always expected me to do well but never pushed me - I was never forced to do homework etc and have therefore always been reasonable at motivating myself.

Decent school - well, bit of a waste now but at least I can watch University Challenge instead of Jeremy Kyle while being a SAHM!

cant help you there.........my mum used to give me money to go to the pub at 14

Ok, University Challenge and Jeremy Kyle

she couldnt be arsed disciplining me

they loved us.

Was not exclusively breast fed for at least six months, was fed on a crap diet of findus crispy pancakes and tinned potatoes, did not learn to read before I went to school, did not go to improving after-school clubs, got sent to the newsagent to buy mum's fags, got a smack round the legs for cheekiness on numerous occasions. All shameful, terrible parenting crimes these days but I had the best parents, who loved us and who brought up happy, normal children.

Oh yeah, and they were divorced as well.

My parents did the best they could for me and my brother, and I know they loved us unconditionally.

That's the most important thing they did for me, whatever else they may have got wrong.

nice thread btw

Unconditional love.

Prehaps I should ask my own son what I did right in twenty years time. I know I have made lots of parenting mistakes.

yeah they do love me to bits though

Hmm ... was about to post then realised you want positive stories and gratitude.

As my answer to your question would be "Not Much" I think I ought to bugger off again!

and my nan was more like a parent to me....she gave me the best times in my childhood, nearly all of them didnt cost a penny but mean the world to me.she had time and love for me....and she makes a mean apple and blackberry crumble

most things actually. I had a stable home, help with my reading, encouragment in most things (except violin playing).

not learning to read before you go to school is a plus point imo too.

Gave us the confidence to know we can do anything we want as long as we're prepared to put the effort in, and encouraged us to question EVERYTHING

Broc, wish we'd had a bit of that tho, I'd love to go into a room full of strangers and feel ok about it

I'm with long meg - my initial reaction was 'bugger all'. My ds's parents however got a lot of things right - no 1 - to let him live his own life and only get involved when he asked them too - a lot of mutual respect on all sides

Initial reaction was 'bugger all' here too, but they weren't all bad. The best thing they did was send me to a good school.

Not a lot from my mum, but she taught us the importance of having a savings account and then helped us buy our houses.
My dad worked long hours 6 days a week, but he still cooked home made meals from scratch for us, every evening after work without fail.

My parents were hot hot hot on manners and thinking of others, also very generous with their time and limited resources to friends and family in difficulties.
At one point dad was acting as volunteered and unofficial financial adviser to no less than three angry and deserted housewife friends.
He would sit in the dining room combing through their papers while they were drinking his whisky next door with mum and raving about how all men were bastards who needed castrating
Even in advanced years (78 and 82) they are liable to offer to help "an elderly neighbour" with stuff...
But I also dined on filthy Findus crispy pancakes and angel delight, was sent miles to purchase fags from the age of seven, and was subjected to a rolling critique of every aspect of my personality and appearance on the grounds that "I'm your MUM and if I don't tell you no-one will..."
Like others on here, I always felt loved...maybe not always understood!

not - one - fecking - thing

I knew I was loved

Oh, many things. My mum spent so very much time with me before I went to school, I don't remember ever watching tv, although I know I must have done. She opened up the world of books to me. I had a lot of freedom to roam, although was never ever made to. A holiday every year, even if it was a tourer caravan and pack up on the beach - our holidays cost nothing but they were the best.

Tinks, how's your wonky pelvis

She taught me to live on a budget.

My dad wishes we hadn't been taught to live on a budget, he thinks it removed our ambition to rid ourselves of the budget.

Am surprised at the number of people replying that they can't think of a thing . Hope I've not irked you with this rather sugary thread idea.

My parents got an awful lot wrong too - I worry about getting those same things wrong with dd, or getting other things wrong. I find I dwell on it. I suppose that was what made me deliberately turn it around and look for the positive.

Unconditional love is mentioned a lot - at least I know I'll definitely be able to get that one right for dd!