If you could change one thing (or many things) about your parents growing up, what would it be

Question

I wouldn't change much at all, except the fact that my Dad did all the disciplining and my Mom never did any of it. She would tell us to wait until Dad gets home and she would ignore it. But she was still a good Mom. Other than that, both my parents were awesome, Bible believing, kind, caring parents who raised us well and to be respectful, kind, Bible believing individuals. I love them and respect them for it.

What would you have changed if you could?

Answer 1

i would have changed my mom's income and made her really, really rich.

but seriously, as strange as this sounds, i would've lowered her standards for me.  when someone thinks you're so smart, so beautiful, etc, and can do ANYTHING, then when you don't achieve the pinnacle of things because you're only human, they're always disappointed.  So, sorry i wasn't america's top model, didn't go to harvard, and am not a doctor.  

but she was pretty great other than that.

Answer 2

I would have changed my Dad so that he was an alcoholic and drug abuser. And I would have changed that he didn't abuse my siblings and I mentally and physically.  

Answer 3

I wouldn't change a lot either, but I would have my mom be more democratic instead of permissive.  She was a single mom and did a great job most of the time, but a lot of times she would just be a permissive mom.  Her discipline would be a"well, I don't really want you to do that, but you can do what ever you want" kind of thing.  This was always her way of not being the bad guy and letting someone else be the bad guy instead.  That's not a really good way to teach anything, except that Mom doesn't want to enforce any limits.

Answer 4

I just asked this a few minutes ago, haha. :)

I would change how my parents were so critical of me. They always put me down - no matter how good I was or how much I accomplished. They still do it to this day and I'm 28!

Answer 5

Nothing-my mom is my hero

Answer 6

well, not much but

i grew up with just my mom and i

wish she was more invoved

Answer 7

almost everything. the main thing i would change is that my dad would have never cheated on my mom. i mean, sure i love my step dad, but who wants to have divorce parents. i would also change the reason as to why my dad claimed he cheated. he told me he wasn't leaving because of my mom, or because of my sibling, but because of me. that i was the worst thing that ever happened to me. i hate to be thought of the reason for my parents splitting up, and i still cry sometimes when i think about what my dad said. obviously, i don't talk to my dad much anymore

Answer 8

I would like to change the fact that by the time I got around to adolescence they decided they were done raising kids.  I only have one sister who is 4 years older.  I would also change the fact that if I tried to talk to them about important stuff i.e. dating, s*x, my period, my mom yelled and got mad.  Because of this I grew up early and made a lot of dumb decisions.  I felt pretty lonely growing up and often sought out others families to fill in the gaps that mine had.  

Answer 9

Honestly, nearly everything about my Mum. But my Dad was amazing - he spent time with me and was my hero right until the day he died, when I was thirteen. However, my Mum is an alcoholic and selfish woman. She beat me and my siblings for years and always found ways to ruin my life. She still tries and still chooses alcohol over her now grandchildren. I never had any discipline from my Mum, just abuse. I became a drug addict at 14 and a Dad at 17. My Mum did nothing good for me in the long run, I think I'd change everything about her.

Answer 10

i would probaly want to change everything :( they werent very good parents my father was very distant and my mother was always gone and when she was around there was a lot of fighting! they cared more about themselves than they did us! my father figured as long as we had a good dinner (not a lunch not a breakfast) that it was good enough and my mom was always out drinking and flirting trying to make my dad jelouse (it never worked) and life went on like this till he died !

Answer 11

My childhood was great but just wished my Dad didn't have to go through cancer, me and my brother seen our dad go through so much and our mum was an angel and taking care of us all and doing the best she could..

Answer 12

Oh boy..I wish my mum had of WAITED until she finished college & Uni, found her actual soulmate, got married and was stable emotionally and financially before having me. I wish she knew more about proper parenting.  I wish she didn't smoke, drink or take speed while I was growing up. I wish she had of thought more with her head than her emotions. I wish she wasn't co-dependant & respected herself more with men. I wish she was more organized & happier.

But of course I don't actually wish anything was different otherwise I wouldn't be the person I am today! : )

Answer 13

i would change how my mom was always critisizing me, and she never spends time with me, how she works 14 hours everyday, how she doesnt ask me how my day was, or how everything is going, how im feeling, and how she wont let me be my own person.

i havent seen my dad since i b4 i started kindergarten

Answer 14

My mom was a great mom, but kinda cold and didn't really want to drive me around anywhere.  Now she tells me she loves me all the time and will drive me anywhere if I need her to.  And she lives 45 minutes away!  I guess being a grandma and the loss of her father softened her heart.  

Answer 15

If you had asked me this question when I was 14, I wouldn't even know where to begin!  Now that I'm older, I honestly cannot find too much fault with my parents.  Though they were divorced, both were so dedicated to us kids and raised us the best way they knew how with good morals.

I think one thing I would change would be that my dad would comment on how I had gotten chunky in junior high, and that hurt a lot.  I've slimmed down in my adulthood, so I know my dad just wanted me to be healthy, but that's a touchy subject with a young teen girl.

Answer 16

My parents did almost everything wrong (including drugs in front of us), but there is one thing I really wish I could've changed: I wish my mom hadn't abandoned me for her husband that abused me.

Then again, I may not have become the strong person I am now. I learned how to be a great parent by her mistakes.

Answer 17

I wish my dad wouldnt have spoiled me when I was younger! I was horrible at age 5 or so. Of corse I got better because my parents split and I went with my mom, but looking back on videos of me at that age. I was spoiled rotten! He refused to yell or spank or even get stern with me (when I frequently needed diciplined). I remember one time he gave me a dirty look and it broke my heart. I thought my daddy hated me. He was an awesome dad, but I needed a parent and not a friend. Hope this helps.

Answer 18

I wish I had a time machine and I would go back in time 25yrs. I would go back and tell my mom not to worry and make sure she didn't make the mistake that she did...she was divorced 2 times with 2 kids...1 with each husband...my dad left her and married my step-mom and now that I am grown and have gone through a seperation and fear of being a single both, and desperation...I can understand why my mom became involved with the man she did....unfortunately he, he was a criminal from Mariel Harbor and a horrible man...he murdered her when I was 4yrs old and still has not been caught...(I am almost 29)....then I went to live with my dad and step-mother who resented my existence and beat me and treated me like garbage for 16yrs til I ran away and got maried.....my dad also turned his back on it and made himself the idiot so that he wouldn't have problems with her...of course it cause me alot of problems..psychologically! When I was in high school it took such a toll on me physically that I litterally thought of committing suicide and could no longer take it! Thank GOD I was born a strong person and strong monded and decided against it and ran away instead....however I wish I would have done that differently as well....because of that I had to quit school and work...and 4yrs into the marriage my husband left me for another woman, so here I was pregnant and no job or education and scared as h**l that I would fall in the same slump as my mom and I would end up on welfare and in the ghetto working 2 jobs and leaving my son to who knows what! I was soooo stressed I never ate and barely weighed 100 lbs..so If, you ask If I could change anything would I? Yes...I would give my dad a back bone and give my mom the guidence and support  she needed...and maybe my life would have been different...but at the same time, it made me stronger and I would never trade my son or daughter in for anything in this world....I reconsiled with my husband (cause i didn't want to be like my dad, married 4 times and have kids with different women) and now I am a SAHM and going to school full time...I should graduate next December with a Bachelor's in Psychology and an Associates in Early Childhood Development and then I plan to get my Master's and maybe...go ahead and get the Bachelor's in Early Childhood Development...My goal is to help children like myself and let them know that everything will be ok if they work hard and are determined to not let anyone break them or hold them back.....and I want my children to also learn from my experiences and I hope they grow up to be honest, hard working people that also care and respect for others....

Answer 19

I wish my mom would have been more strict and more consistent then she was. would have kept me out of a lot of trouble.