i agree it was the same up in my house. i am changing that with my daughter.

Yes. My parents did a great job of raising my sister amd me. They did the best that they could with the situation that they had.

I`m very proud of my parents and I miss them so very much.

Mom & Dad, you were the greatest. I didn`t realize how smart you were until I had sons of my own. Thank you for the sacrifices that you made for my sister and I.

They did a very good job. Actually, my mother did an outstanding job, she was single and two just like me

Mine did a great job but I didn't do a good job of being a son. I am thankful to have a beautiful daughter who didn't put me through the same crap I put my parents through!!!

Despite my father being away all the time with work and my mother's ignoring me due to her depression I believe.....I think I turned out ok.

You can only teach what you know...you only know what you are taught, short of abandonment, and complete lack of concern most parents are "good" parents. My actions do not always reflect my upbringing, and for many there are circumstances in childhood that cannot be blamed on the parents.....right or wrong the actions of your parents lead you to who you are today.... so the question is more an evaluation of yourself than of your parents, of course the greatest influence in your life may not have been your "parents" as the term is popularly defined as your "biological parents" as opposed to your parents simply being those who raised you....

Some people are biologically predestined no matter who or how they are raised.

I think in a way, we all raise ourselves.

my parents had to many mouths to feed...they never looked at our homework or asked if we had any to do...never asked if we needed extra material for school or field trips...just tried to maintain...they divorced after 16 years...it was a lot better after dad left...I don't know how I turned out so well. I am in education and my children are both honor society students because I care about their education.

Biology doesn't make a parent. Did your adoptive parents and/or whomever your caregivers were do a good job? You seem like a well adjusted intelligent adult so i'd say whomever had an influence upon you as a child must have done a reasonably well job.

That's a very good point. For myself I made some decisions in the seventh grade, based on what was going on at home at the time, and stuck to those decisions. One was not to drink and the other was never, ever, abuse any kids I may have had. I can honestly say I have never done either.

yup, but they could have done even better if they would have been millionares...lol

In studies of twins separated at birth this point may be proven valid, but then it turns into an argument about nature vs. nurture.....another observation in that regard would be you have an alcoholic parent and there are two children, one will probably do exactly the opposite of what they saw in their parent, the other will follow in the footsteps of the parent. this is statistical observations only though and it makes the point of raising ourselves very valid indeed since it is our reactions to our environment that indicate who we are

I believe the combination of biology and environment. Ive seen it in people who are overweight. Most cannot help it due to biology but at the same time you have to look at their diet of what they eat, how much and when.

I see it all the time in my work. And I hope this doesnt turn into a weight thread because that is not what I intended. Just an example.

It was rare in my family to have anyone not follow in the footsteps of our parents. I include uncles, aunts, cousins, etc in this. We are a large family and very few chose to stay away from alcohol. Yes many do follow in the footsteps of their family.

It was not easy keeping my sons from following in the footsteps of my relatives but I can honestly say my determination to help them understand the dangers of alcohol was a success. While they do drink they do it in modesty. I thank God they are as well balanced as they are.

To an extent.

Chit, my band raised me!!

Thats where I spent my entire childhood...

They were just like my family.

And Yeah...

They did a hella good job...

I can definitely rock!

My parents did a great job raising all seven of us kids. None of us were in trouble with the law, we all went to Catholic grade school and finished high school. We always had food on the table and clothes on our backs.

If we got into any trouble, it happened after we grew up and moved on to be "grown-ups" ourselves. Age does not always mean wisdom and maturity.

They did the best with what they had and what they knew. My folks owned a bar during my childhood and by most standards our home was extremely dysfunctional, we were in fact, the house on the street that folks shunned and some of the parents did not allow their kids to play with us. They could have done better, but they could have done a whole lot worse. They did teach me to think beyond myself, to have compassion, do good where I can and be loving whenever possible and that in my book is pretty darn good.

My father died when I was 9 and I had three sisters that were younger. My mom worked two jobs to take care of us and to make sure we had a roof over our head, food in our mouths and clothes on our backs. My mom did a wonderfull job considering the fact that she did it alone

My mum did.