How was / is your childhood? - Page 2

Luba · 09-10-2005, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vautrin

I had a reasonable happy childhood, although there were things that were beyond my control (or anyone's control), which had a severe impact on me. It made me a better human being though, I realize in retrospect.

And one thing is for certain: the child in me is still alive and kicking.

.

I think a difficult childhood does make us better people especially since we try to do better ourselves as we age and still "play"!

Merika · 10-02-2005, 08:17 PM

I think too many people use a bad childhood as an excuse to fail or commit crimes. My Mom grew up as a half Jewish girl in Germany during the war. She went hungry alot and was abused by an 'uncle' or two....never made her be a bad person. If anything, she protected me and loved me like no one else could. She came to America, completed college and became the Teacher of the Year.

So...I don't believe in the bad childhood excuse. It's all about who you are and what you are willing to do with yourself. You have the one shot to succeed....if you blow it....don't blame someone else.

Duke · 10-03-2005, 01:41 PM

I agree with you to an extent Merika but that really depends on the individual. Some people lack self-confidence, motivation and common sense and this can encompass anyone, even your own kids. As parents we have a responsibility to identify the criteria and ensure that they know the difference between right and wrong.

Merika · 10-08-2005, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke

. Some people lack self-confidence, motivation and common sense and this can encompass anyone, even your own kids.

Agreed. But I've found that people who lack all these things.....lack them regardless of how they were brought up. Doesn't make them less than....but some people aren't going to accomplish the same as other people accomplish regardless of background. I have three kids...each is entirely different as to how they see themselves and what they want from their own lives. I think more is inherent.....than what actually occurs while they are growing up. I could be wrong....but all I have to go by is what I've seen in my own situation.

Childhood is important....but it doesn't make or break the adult which comes out of it.

Ayla · 11-02-2005, 05:00 PM

My childhood was pretty darn great. We were dirt floor poor and if not for growing a garden, hunting, and canning food...we'd have probably starved a time or two. Somehow my mom and dad always managed to keep our bellies full...though it may not have been with McDonalds.

I had a very large extended family and my 12 cousins were more like brothers and sisters to me. (Though nearly every family in WV is like that.) We had a lot of fun. We played in the creek, swung on vines, built forts, picked berries...that stuff filled our free time up.

I had a lot of family members die while I was young and my dad died when I was 15 and that has left me with an emotional scar that I can't seem to get healed. I have a fear of people I love dying and leaving me behind because of this.

Overall my childhood was a magical time full of innocence and love.

Ayla · 11-02-2005, 05:02 PM

My childhood was pretty darn great. We were dirt floor poor and if not for growing a garden, hunting, and canning food...we'd have probably starved a time or two. Somehow my mom and dad always managed to keep our bellies full...though it may not have been with McDonalds.

I had a very large extended family and my 12 cousins were more like brothers and sisters to me. (Though nearly every family in WV is like that.) We had a lot of fun. We played in the creek, swung on vines, built forts, picked berries...that stuff filled our free time up.

I had a lot of family members die while I was young and my dad died when I was 15 and that has left me with an emotional scar that I can't seem to get healed. I have a fear of people I love dying and leaving me behind because of this.

Overall my childhood was a magical time full of innocence and love.

Star · 11-02-2005, 06:04 PM

Merika wrote:

Quote:

Childhood is important....but it doesn't make or break the adult which comes out of it.

I so agree with that! With the childhood I had, I should be an alcoholic drug addicted prostitute but i'm not. I'm glad that i had the childhood that i did. if i didn't, would i be the person i am today? probably not. I like who i am and i wouldn't change a thing.

Duke · 11-02-2005, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Star

Merika wrote:

Quote:

Childhood is important....but it doesn't make or break the adult which comes out of it.

I so agree with that! With the childhood I had, I should be an alcoholic drug addicted prostitute but i'm not. I'm glad that i had the childhood that i did. if i didn't, would i be the person i am today? probably not. I like who i am and i wouldn't change a thing.

I only half heartedly agree with this. Again I really think its based on the individual and their drive, motivation, self-confidence, etc., to actually break from the mold that a crappy childhood may have created. If I were to model myself after my childhood I would be an alcoholic who makes little to no time for my child. I've always vowed I would never become this person but I know people who have never really escaped the dysfunction that their childhood thrust upon them for various reasons.

Weiser · 11-02-2005, 11:49 PM

And then there is me, who had the ideal upbringing who then went down the wrong path because it was different and fun. I guess I found my way back to the right path, but it's boring.

Duke where is my novella?

Star · 11-03-2005, 07:19 AM

Quote:

I only half heartedly agree with this. Again I really think its based on the individual and their drive, motivation, self-confidence, etc., to actually break from the mold that a crappy childhood may have created. If I were to model myself after my childhood I would be an alcoholic who makes little to no time for my child. I've always vowed I would never become this person but I know people who have never really escaped the dysfunction that their childhood thrust upon them for various reasons.

I don't think it's so much their drive, motivation or self-donfidence but more so self-pitty. some bring it into their adulthood and always blame their childhood upbrigging as a reason for their failures in life.

there come a point in life where the blame is on yourself for your failures and not your parents. I blamed my parents for years and years for my failures in life. they were the reason why i didn't finish school, they were the reason why i struggled so much to just get by, they were the reason why i left home so early but in reality, I'm the reason why i didn't finish school and become what i wanted to be. that was up to me to accomplish whether my parents backed me up or not.

this is the way I look at this kind of thing now. I realized this in my mid 30's. took that long to move on and away from my crappy childhood.

Duke · 11-03-2005, 07:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weiser

Duke where is my novella?

I sent it to you ages ago d00d, in fact, I sent it to you when I got home that night. I was wondering why you never commented.

Weiser · 11-03-2005, 10:10 AM

Last PM I got was - Wed Oct 26, 2005 11:18 pm

It's not the novella. Maybe you sent it to the wrong person?

Vautrin · 11-03-2005, 10:55 AM

That explains a bit. He ordered me to rewrite the whole thing...

hezekiah · 01-22-2006, 05:11 PM

Bumping this for the question-my childhood was a drag-but I'm getting a do over-I'm determined not to mature over the age of 5 this time...