My sister and I were raised by what some may consider ‘old-school’ parents. My mom and dad were, and are, tough, but simultaneously fair, and they raised us in a way to ensure we would carry valuable traits over into our adult years.
Both of my parents are Baby Boomers, and while their age classification may not seem entirely relevant to this post, I think it is; my sister and I were expected to help both my mom and my dad when asked, without question; we had our own responsibilities that we were expected to maintain, and if we did not, we were reprimanded; we worked hard to earn what we have, and we didn’t receive ‘handouts,’ although my parents have been exceptionally generous to both of us throughout our lives.
Now that I am almost 30, I honestly find it agonizing sometimes to consider how I was raised, and how I am as an adult when compared to other folks my age. By this, I mean that sometimes I am flabbergasted by the disrespect, lack of mannerisms, and entitlement that I see from other people my age and younger toward their own parents, and simply toward people in general.
As angry as this makes me, this comparison also serves as a valuable reminder of how fortunate I am to be raised in the manner I was. I used to hate my parent’s rules and expectations most of the time when I was a child, but now that I’m older and a bit more mature, I am grateful for their parenting and how they brought us up.
If it were not for comparisons in this context, I likely would be ignorant of how lucky I am to have been raised by individuals who truly cared and wanted to ensure their children were raised in a manner that reflects their own values and beliefs. By no means am I perfect, but I do recognize that I am the way that I am as a result of how I was raised.
Photo by Jesse Bowser on Unsplash
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