In the chat room, I asked the women, "If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?" Not ONE woman said that she wished her mom had a career and worked more from outside the home so they could have more stuff. Not one said they wished they had more fast food and came home to an empty home. Not one wished her parents would have gotten divorced.
Many shared how they wished their mom taught them how to cook and clean. Some wished their mom was home more and gave them more chores to learn responsibility. They wish their parents got along better and didn't argue. Some would have loved being raised in a Christian home. Here are some of the comments in their own words. {I removed their names to protect their privacy.} May we learn from them!
I was never made to do anything; never had chores or had to clean anything. Anytime I was told to clean my room or something, if I didn't do it, mom would do it for me. Never was punished or made to do anything. Learning to keep my house clean was a huge challenge for me. Still is.
I wish I would have learned to cook more, too. I pretty much had to teach myself. I have a lot of the same struggles.
My parents prioritized high grades over keeping my room clean, chores, and cooking. Great idea for raising an independent woman; not so great for training as a future stay-at-home mom. I didn't even know how to make pancakes from a box mix when I got married! I also wished I would have learned to sew while I lived at home and could ask my mom.
I wish my mom had taught me how to keep a home. She didn't ever teach me how to cook, clean, sew or anything. She didn't know how to do any of these things herself, so I grew up in a filthy home and eating TV dinners the majority of the time.
I wish my mom had taught me how to keep a home. She didn't ever teach me how to cook, clean, sew or anything. She didn't know how to do any of these things herself, so I grew up in a filthy home and eating TV dinners the majority of the time.
That they were more demonstrative with their love; meaning hugs and kisses. That dad was more of the leader of the family in certain areas.
I wish my mom would've been at home. Both my parents worked two jobs a piece until I was in high school. I was left to fend for myself while my little sister was in daycare. Children shouldn't be responsible for raising themselves.
That my parents had a second child and raised me in church.
To be raised in a Christian home and taught about Christ. Although my parents were/are awesome, they weren't Christian. I didn't get saved until about 4 years ago and didn't regularly go to church until around that time either.
I wish we had healthier meals. We ate too much fast food as we were always busy. Also, I wish I was allowed to be a kid more, instead of being forced to take sides in my parent's disagreements.
Are there some things you wish your parents did differently while raising you? It is good to learn from other's mistakes so we don't make the same while raising our children!
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing,
being fruitful in every good work,
and increasing in the knowledge of God.
Colossians 1:10
mbb · 522 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 522 weeks ago
Shanon · 522 weeks ago
Anthea · 522 weeks ago
Even very little children ask really interesting questions -- unless you park them in front of the telly all day, or never go out. Once you start home educating them, my goodness! It is soo interesting and challenging. Do I even need to mention the questions about spiritual things?
Lori Alexander 122p · 522 weeks ago
Cori · 522 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 522 weeks ago
Carolin Martens · 522 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 522 weeks ago
Tiffany · 522 weeks ago
Lori Alexander 122p · 522 weeks ago
Desiree · 522 weeks ago
I wish my parents had continued to attend church. But they stopped when I was about 12 and I faithfully found ways to get myself there every time the doors were open. Mainly for my younger sister and brother I wish that...they did not attend after my parents quit.
As far as we were and still are concerned our dad was great. We now see the flaws that we didn't as kids...but he was so involved in our lives and always had something for us to do. Mostly fun. He had been raised by great, hands on parents.
I do know that the things I experienced growing up...the good and the bad...have molded me into the mom I am. And though I am far from perfect I can look back at my childhood and pick the things that mom and dad did right for my child. And weed out the things I know were damaging to my siblings and me.
Lori Alexander 122p · 522 weeks ago
Lady Virtue · 522 weeks ago
Most of all, though, I wish my parents had taught me to prioritize early marriage and encouraged me to have children in my youth. That could have saved me much heartbreak and loneliness during my long years in the desert of singleness.
Lori Alexander 122p · 522 weeks ago
Patt · 522 weeks ago
My mom had an excellent work-home balance. She was a lifeguard in high school and university (paid her own way), a school teacher before she had kids, at-home for preschool, a part time swim lesson instructor and lifeguard as well as a paid tutor while we were in younger grades, and then she returned to full time teaching when we were in our late teens. She is now retired and enjoys her grandkids. Through it all she kept fit and enjoyed outside interests by playing tennis and being on swim teams. We went camping every summer and enjoyed skiing in the winters.
I admire the way she always chose a life that suited her that also suited her children. Though I can say I was the kind of child that would have liked plenty more fast food, and a somewhat more time home alone to get up to mischief.
My 'wishes' that might have been different were that we were raised quite strictly with lower-than-average levels of warmth and high expectations. I think I would have liked a more attached relationship with my mom. As a child, I didn't "like" her very much. My dad was a heavy worker, and so we associated him with the "fun" times of life (vacations etc) not with the everyday -- which is a bit sad. I think if my dad had been a more active parent, I would probably have "liked" them both a lot more.
Jo · 522 weeks ago
Inna · 522 weeks ago
Catherine · 522 weeks ago
My mother never seemed to care where I was or how late I stayed out, or with who. I never had a curfew. I remember waking up many a night at 2:00 am and wondering where she was. I know she had a hard time finding her way after her divorce, but I needed a mother, not a child to raise. The day my parents split up, I became the mother. I was 10.