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global_recession
November 2009 
How are you different from your parents?
Posted on Aug 17th, 2009
by 
Zephyr
Zephyr
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for August 17, 2009:
Well the victorians thought that if we spared the rod we spoiled the child and children were expected to be seen but not heard, some were even sent up chimneys to clean them, thankfully we have evolved since then. I will simply say that my parents did their best in tough times post war to give me and my brother a happy childhood and I love them for that. I did my best for my children too, like my parents and grandparents before them..Like my parents, I was human, less than perfect, but we all had love and nurturing in common, comparisons can be odious, hopefully each generation improves on the parenting as we are continually evolving, and we must bear in mind conditions for each generation are different, the present economic situation is probably not helpful, but I believe most parents will do their best to love, protect, nurture and educate their children despite the global recession/depression.. .
Access: Public
Your beautiful, loving maternal energy in your comment reverberates around the planet and I trust our ancestors celebrate your life with us.
Hi Gabby, thank you, ooooh I would love to meet some of my ancestors, particularly my paternal grandmother who was a nurse like me and died before I was born, and way back one was a writer, I would love to meet him too.
Yes you're right, Gael; in that parents do their best–and feel they are doing their best.
As to ancestors, they're in our DNA, so we can meet them at will. Careful though; they love to meet us too, so sometimes we've to sort-of stop the chatter!
Gael, that is a beautiful tribute to your parents and grandparents. I am also a post war product. My folks were raised in the depression and I think any one who raised a family and held it together during those times deserves a round of applause. After reading Dune too many times, I'd rather my ancestors stay right where they are and let me sleep nights. I have an over-active imagination to start with and it doesn't pay for me to get it going. I'll just read about them in the archives. Thanks for a enjoyable post.
You know good and well they are enjoying the fruits of their labor in you.
Let the trumpets sound!
You so right about ones yearning of wanting to know more about ones ancestors, Gael. I was told that there was 'pirate' blood in our back ground…goler's gee wilicker's, I 'opes them's were the good ones! :)
Meenakshi, I feel my paternal gran in my veins though I never met her, and from an old sepia photo, I can see the love and compassion in her heart, I can see it in her eyes, must be where my dad got his gentle caring nature from.
Sandi, thank you
Gabby, blushing.
Rita, how cool, I wonder what circumstances made piracy an attractive option?
Nice one Gael….lawksamussy, you mean you didn't like them chimneys?….I reckon we all crawl up a metaphorical chimney or two…you come over as one with balance and this marks a fitting tribute to yr upbringing imo..Jon x
In answer to your question, Gael…..I'm hoping it was “Liberation” towards a victory worth it's weight in gold, and may the moon, sun and stars always shine upon you:)
“V”
Jon, I remember helping to clean one chimney in Jersey the dining room there had a bread oven in the wall, and an old fashioned copper warmed the water for our tin bath, lol
Rita, I hope so. The moon sun and stars always shine on us all, it's just that in a lot of areas they are obscured by light pollution, last night was a glorious starlit night and I heard lots of tawny owls calling from about 5 or 6 different directions, light pollution doesn't suit them.
nice thoughts Zeph
Hi Tony, thank you for stopping by.
I like the way you summed it up, Gael, and I feel the same way. One thing doing genealogy has taught me is to not judge our ancestors because they were most likely doing the best they could do with the tools they had then to handle the demands of their times.
Hi Barbara, was the genealogy your own family or for others? I think seing our own faults clearly also predisposes us to not judge too.
Hi Gael, the genealogy has been mostly my own, although I had a client or two in the past, before caring for elderly relatives became my primary occupation. I hope to get back to it someday soon. Have plans to do some volunteering at our county historical society this fall as my family has managed to arrange things so I have a little more free time. Family History
It's true what you say about our own faults. The more mistakes I made with my children, the less judgmental I felt towards my parents.
Funny thing, that. The most important gifts we have to give our children cost nothing but our time, our attention, and our love. With a lot of giggles thrown in for good measure!
Very true Mamakat, we didn't have a lot materially but we worked in home and garden, and picnicked, picked blackberries, walked, and played on the beaches together as a family
Prophet Muhammad said the best gift what a parent can give to their childern is EDUCATIO. I differ with the short cut of corporal treatment instead if pep talk and constant guidance is resorted to, would prove better.
Tariq yes and education carries on for life, I taught all my children to read before they went to school, they all learned to cook and care for themselves and had a good education. going on to uni and degrees. My grandchildren too now.
I have am single father of two teen ager 1+1. I have taught them ridding, cooking, driving,swimming and even how to use a gun.
I have made my daughter as my accountant. She pays and keeps accounts whenever we are out together or at home. My boy helps me in setting up my computer, housekeeping and other trivia with my daughter. Washing and other things beyond us are done by the maid. So grooming childern helps you in so many ways.
You enjoys and relax at times and it give lots of opportunities to share so many things which you otherwise wouldn't. I think this is best way of interacting with your childern.
To do all such practices a strong family bond is necessary, that is waning. There are so manhy things that cut on time, not sapring much for our kids. TV is on the top.
what I tell you, practice myself, I don't have TV at my home. We make all the fun ourselves and are enjoying full pleasureful life.