What Did Your Parents Give You?

[allenlondon]

Materially, almost nothing. They had very little, and were quite happy with it.

I couldn’t live up to their honesty and integrity, although in later life I’ve tried.

Mum gave us a small rose bush, which she claimed had come from her mother’s house in Kilburn in the 1880s. One of her stories, we thought, until years later looking at that house on Google Maps, we were delighted to see the tiny front garden a riot of roses - pink, just like the one which still blooms in our patch.

So much joy in small things.

[andy-hughes]

My dad taught me three things, all of them useful -

How to complain effectively
How to drive a car
How not to be a parent in any reasonable way - which has enabled be to do the exact opposite with my children.

[Mamyalynne]

Patience,understanding how to keep a sense of humour even in the darkest times.

Above all, the pleasure in just 'being' me.

[Apc2604]

Love
Lots of life experience and knowledge
Good manners
Social awareness
Independence,encouragement and confidence
And lots of their time.

I hope I gave my son the same

[MargoTester]

Life, love and a sense of honesty

[Vagus]

A happy, stable childhood.
And a lovely antique clock which my grandfather bought for my grandmother in a house sale, and which my mum took no care of whatsoever as she didn’t like it.
It’s a bonging clock which stopped bonging until I inherited it and had it restored. I love it.

[Theland]

When I got married they bought us a double bed.
It wore out after seven years, so we bought a T.V.

[Tashi]

Love,
an education,
and a belief that nothing is impossible, if you want it go for it.

[Sqad]

Same as Tashi.

[ummmm]

Lots.

I was brought up by a family who also taught me a lot. We're all the same unit now so something worked.

[Apc2604]

My dad also gave me a love of nature.
And, yes prepared me for a very good education.

[Apc2604]

I think the best thing parents can do for their kids in their lives is their time. Something I think is sadly lacking now is many families.

[marval]

Love, patience and respect for all people.

[jennyjoan]

Allen - when more or less children got nothing materially - everyone was in the same boat. Where I lived anyway. Big Catholic families who just passed down.

But remember my mother bought me a beautiful boy doll for one Christmas and the following year - she glued a girl's wig with two pig tails and a dress. She thought she fooled me. But we had to be happy LOL

[iluvmargie]

A happy, family home.
Great Christmases.
A love of animals.

[EdmundD]

Father: Patience. I knew at an early age I would get away at some point and I just had to wait until I could.

Mother: Compassion and respect for your fellow man.

[DTCwordfan]

fed on premature baby food for 6 weeks and not 6 days....then my father stuck a safety pin through my belly - such abuse and I ended up having a hernia at 6 months. It scarred me for life!

[Bobbisox1]

love
the best childhood ever
good work ethics
respect for older people
I could never asked for a better childhood than the one I had

[Baldric]

Was a single parent family,
Firstly lots of love,
Family business was a riding stables, so the ability to ride.
Determination.
Pride in myself.
Respect for others.

[tiggerblue10]

A good work ethic and value of money. I've been working since 17 and very lucky to have never had any money worries.

I've also got my dad's stubbornness.

[fbg40]

Not what they gave me but something I learned - don't do a job for somebody willingly and then complain about it afterwards.
FBG40