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

[Anonymous]

Financial literacy

[Anonymous]

I don't know if I was 'pushed' per se, but an appreciation for the outdoors. It turned me into an active outdoors man, camping, fly fishing, canoe trips, surf fishing, hiking etc.

I (52) have shared this pursuit with my own kids and frankly it's incredibly sad how few of their peers spend anytime outside. It's all basements and video games or a very rigid organized sport. You arr meant to be outdoors and the emotional and spiritual impact it has on your is invaluable.

[Anonymous]

My parents made me go to Hebrew school and have a Bat Mitzvah. I resented it and chose not to do that to my kid. He's a young adult now and fine with it but who knows. Maybe someday he'll regret the lack of a religious education and insist on it for his own kids. And the cycle will begin again.

[Anonymous]

They made me play soccer starting at age 6. The first few years took some nudging and I literally did cartwheels during games instead of defending the goal. But, I made my school’s varsity team in 9th grade, played D3 in college, and played on a couple adult teams in my 20s. Those years of being on a team and playing a contact sport has given me a lasting confidence. I also appreciate that they were strict about manners and introduced me to international travel and camping. It’s good to remember all of this because they made a lot of shitty parenting moves as well, multiple marriages, emotional immaturity, alcoholism etc.

[Anonymous]

My parents were immigrants. Contrary to the stereotype, they didn’t push us academically or otherwise. They did, however, encourage us to pursue our interests and use our talents. More importantly, they modeled industriousness, perseverance, independence, intellectual curiosity, good manners, love of travel, generosity, and speaking up for ourselves and for our values. And they were fun. I miss them.

[Anonymous]

My parents were serious about manners, grades, reading, and understanding current events, but generally gave me a ton of leeway on pretty much everything else. They encouraged independence and bravery and sometimes gave me a hard time when they perceived I was being hesitant about trying things - but rarely made me actually stick with something if I didn’t want to.

Some of the things I insist on with my own kids are family dinner every night, manners, and helping out around the house. My older kids have to do a couple of ECs each semester, but they can choose anything that interests them. Summer jobs (or internships, or classes) are non-negotiable.

[Anonymous]

manners & writing thank you notes
treating people equally
not being afraid to speak out
working during summers
good posture

[Anonymous]

Earn a college degree
Have a way to earn a living
Have money in my own name, even if married
Be an active volunteer and be generous with time and money
Be respectful to those in authority
Treat everyone with kindness and dignity
Eat healthily, exercise regularly, don't smoke or take illegal drugs, alcohol only in moderation

[Anonymous]

- Socialize, host, include, show up, and keep growing your network.
- Do favors to others if you can and have no expectation of reciprocity. The universe will reciprocate.
- Cook from scratch, clean every day, do laundry and iron clothes.
- How to pray and be grateful.
- Study every day, even when no homework has been assigned.
- Loyalty and devotion to your family. Make every person in your family succeed.

[Anonymous]

Experiences, memories over materialism
Pick a sport to encourage an active life
Frugality “waste not, want not”
Generosity (time & money) with family & friends

[Anonymous]

My parents pushed me a lot, and not always with things that were worth it to me in the long run.

However, I did appreciate:

Eating dinner together each night
Emphasis on academics and doing your best
Getting my chores done well in order to get an allowance; it gave me a good work ethic
Not letting me spend weeks abroad like my friends in college being lazy; I was supposed to earn my money for books and extra expenses in the summers since they paid for college tuition
They had me solve issues myself like make my own college list with minimal input and it made me very independent and helped eventually with running my own business

[Anonymous]

I wish my parents had pushed me more and encouraged me to find a strength and build on it. They were more hands off, letting me make my own decisions and mistakes, which can be a good approach versus micromanaging, but I think they went too far the other way. I don't mean to criticize them and don't blame them for my mistakes.

I took the same approach with my child and now wish I had been a bit more hands on. Not a helicopter parent but guiding, like many PPs have described.

[Anonymous]

I am very glad Iwasn’t forced to stick with piano.

[Anonymous]

My parents rule was that I always had to be involved in something. It didn't have to be one particular thing, they let me choose, but they wanted me involved in something outside of academics that interested me. I was a girl scout, played clarinet, student council, drama club. I wish they would have pushed for sports--at the time, that would have terrified me but I think there is a lot that can be learned from playing on a team and fostering an appreciation for exercise.

[Anonymous]

Letting me be a free-range kid. Going by myself in the woods, riding my bike all over town, ice skating on frozen ponds. We weren't rich, but I had a great childhood.