What did your parents push you to do that you are grateful for?

[Anonymous]

I was brought up by a single, working mom. She didn’t push me to do anything because she was busy just surviving. I had friends who were forced to do piano lessons and hated going to church, but were forced to by their parents. Some reflect now that they were grateful.

Dh and I have pushed our kids into some things (like swim lessons, for safety reasons) but we find it hard to know how much to push/insist vs let them decide. School is a priority, but beyond that…

So this is about what YOUR parents made you do—are you grateful? Resentful? Somewhere in between?

[Anonymous]

Sit together at the dinner table. No tv on. No taking a plate and eating elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

I was prohibited from using the word “fair.” It’s amazing how smooth life is if you don’t have a meltdown ever time you encounter unfairness.

[Anonymous]

They pushed me to get married. I would have stayed single if I had my own way, but marriage isn't such a bad thing.

[Anonymous]

They didn't push me to do anything and I'm grateful for that. They housed, fed, and clothed me. That's it. Everything else like travel, work, health, and educational opportunities were provided by the state.
Mom wanted me to stop horse back riding (free in the old country), but I enjoyed it too much. I finally stopped at age 15 when I went to a boarding school.
There is nothing they could have done to prepare me for fast moving new times ahead in 90s. I'm grateful for being brought up to be independent, which made my move to another continent easy at age 18.
My parents were busy working. I got their work ethic though.

[Anonymous]

My parents didn’t push me to do anything in particular. My mom wanted us to marry rich. That was one piece of advice.

[Anonymous]

My mom made me do choir in high school because I'd given up every musical instrument I tried. I raged about it.

I met my husband in choir in college.

[Anonymous]

Honestly? Nothing. The things I resisted and they pushed on didn't really serve me.

[Anonymous]

To be polite and aware of others in the world. Showing appreciation for gifts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They pushed me to get married. I would have stayed single if I had my own way, but marriage isn't such a bad thing.

Marriage derailed my career, then they blamed me for not being wealthy enough to outright buy my 2mm house.
Can’t win.

[Anonymous]

They didn't give us allowance. Picking up after ourselves was the expected default (making the bed, keeping our room clean, doing the dishes, generally keeping our home tidy).

We could earn some $ by doing extras (wash the car, yard work, etc) but inside the home was everyone's responsibility to keep clean.

I feel the same about my own home today.

[Anonymous]

My parents were neglectful in many ways, but I knew from a very young age that I’d “go away to college.” I was a B- HS student with a learning disability in mathematics (never got past Algebra 1) and aspired to nothing more than being a housewife. (I’m 57).

I told my father all of the above my senior year and he advised that I will be a college-educated housewife and that I WOULD go to college. Just get a degree! I did!

[Anonymous]

My parents seriously restricted "screen" use (I am 32, so grew up when all that was exploding). I felt like a weirdo compared to my friends. I read constantly. I was a smart kid who went to an elite school and don't think I necessarily would've been as academically successful had I had the unlimited screen access I have now.

[Anonymous]

- College (even though I had to pay for it myself)
-Marry someone from my own religion ( because they did not)
-Be polite + appreciative
- Learn a foreign language
- Be self sufficient

[Anonymous]

Eat dinner together every night.

To be self sufficient financially, which they introduced to me gradually, so by the time I graduated from college and found my first job I didn't need their financial help. Had part time jobs all through college, and full time jobs in the summer.


Things that didn't work that I was pushed into:

Piano and Chorus. I had zero musical talent and turned out to have genetic hearing issues discover in my 30s. At least I respect the amount of talent that goes into music I guess.

Sports. Again, not athletic. Turned out to have joint issues. Should have pushed me into physical therapy at an early age instead.