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AOTF Dumb Poll Questions #10

How strict were your parents? Share your birth year and punishments.

  • 5 - Abused

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 4 - extremely strict

    Votes: 2 6.9%
  • 3- fairly strict

    Votes: 17 58.6%
  • 2 - not very strict

    Votes: 9 31.0%
  • 1 - never punished

    Votes: 1 3.4%

  • Total voters
    29
  • Poll closed .
I was born in 1974 (46 for you Dumbasses). I was never really a bad kid so I rarely was in trouble. Part of that could be my dad was a big yeller. He scared the shit out of me with his voice so I never really got out of line. I think maybe I was spanked twice, but given the option between a spanking or loss of tv for a week I would always opt for loss of tv.

I wasn’t ignored, but being a kid of the 80’s I was part of the latch key generation. My mom was a nurse and worked the 3-11pm shift about 3 days per week. I’m pretty sure my being home without parents contributed to some childhood bad eating habits, watching too much TV and raiding my dads porno’s whenever I wanted. I also was a very average student because I didn’t have parents pushing me enough or helping with my homework. Essentially I was a lazy non starter.
 
My parents were strict, not overly so, but strict. They were depression era, born in the 1930's. My dad was a reformed juvenile delinquent who served in the Army during the Korean war. I was one of 10 kids spanning 20 years, coming along when they were in their late 30's and much better off financially than they were when the first half of my siblings were born. My mom and my dad both worked hard, and I while I had everything I needed and virtually everything I wanted, this also came with expectations. I was sent to parochial schools, but I was expected to achieve. If I didn't make honor roll (A's and B's), I lost privileges. If I misbehaved in school, the chastising from my teachers, the nuns or the principal was the least of my worries as the trouble I got into at home would be much worse. My dad was a both a yeller and an ass-kicker (he boxed in reform school, pal club and the army). I was only on the receiving end of a yelling a time or two, as I saw my older siblings catch the ass kickings and I wanted no part of that. But the funny thing was, knowing that I disappointed him those few times hurt me more than a spanking would have. My mom on the other hand was a pleaser and appeaser, peace maker and when angry a kick ass and name taker. She was a sinner and a saint, for putting up with the shit we all ended up putting her through (dad included).

They both taught me how to stand up for myself, They didn't raise me to be meek. I was expected to achieve, respect authority, and be a good citizen but at the same time protect myself, chase my own dreams and question that which didn't seem right. We were best buddies until I became a know it all teenager. Once I discovered the wiles of the opposite sex, put what my parents thought on the back burner. I had my first child before graduating high school, married shortly after and while I took a much harder path than my parents had planned for me, my desire to please them and also to achieve never waned and neither did the lessons they taught me. I wouldn't trade my childhood for anyone's, and one of my only regrets in life is that they both passed away before seeing my kids grow up. But in that same respect it taught me that life is short and not to waste it on myself, instead living it for those who matter most which was my family and making sure I wasn't just there, but present in the moment.
 
I was born in 1974 (46 for you Dumbasses). I was never really a bad kid so I rarely was in trouble. Part of that could be my dad was a big yeller. He scared the shit out of me with his voice so I never really got out of line. I think maybe I was spanked twice, but given the option between a spanking or loss of tv for a week I would always opt for loss of tv.

I wasn’t ignored, but being a kid of the 80’s I was part of the latch key generation. My mom was a nurse and worked the 3-11pm shift about 3 days per week. I’m pretty sure my being home without parents contributed to some childhood bad eating habits, watching too much TV and raiding my dads porno’s whenever I wanted. I also was a very average student because I didn’t have parents pushing me enough or helping with my homework. Essentially I was a lazy non starter.
I was a kid who wasn't mean but I did have trouble sitting still. I think that is why God brought me into the ministry because I don't have to sit still in church and can even talk out loudly. One incident I remember was when I was 14. I was about the same size as my Dad and I told him no when he told me to do something. I stood my ground and even came closer to him and raised my hand against him. He grabs my wrist and then I raised my other hand. He grabbed that hand too and then I was forced to the ground. He looked at me very angrily and said, "Son, are you gonna do what I say?" I said, "yes sir". lol I love that guy. I had stepped over the line and he humbled me. At 14 I did not understand old man strength. My folks were good to me. They would get on me if I did something wrong. By the time I was 16 I kept out of trouble on the most part.
 
I was a kid who wasn't mean but I did have trouble sitting still. I think that is why God brought me into the ministry because I don't have to sit still in church and can even talk out loudly. One incident I remember was when I was 14. I was about the same size as my Dad and I told him no when he told me to do something. I stood my ground and even came closer to him and raised my hand against him. He grabs my wrist and then I raised my other hand. He grabbed that hand too and then I was forced to the ground. He looked at me very angrily and said, "Son, are you gonna do what I say?" I said, "yes sir". lol I love that guy. I had stepped over the line and he humbled me. At 14 I did not understand old man strength. My folks were good to me. They would get on me if I did something wrong. By the time I was 16 I kept out of trouble on the most part.
Huh, I woulda guessed an exorcism or conversion therapy.
 
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I didn't think my parents were that strict. I had rules and punishment when I broke the rules, but they gave me a lot of freedom. My dad believed in trusting me until I gave him a reason to not trust me. Honestly, I was just really good at not getting caught doing anything wrong. I felt I deserved punishment on those times I did get caught.

My teen years were spent trying to have as much fun as possible without causing embarrassment to my parents.
 
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Born in '72... was out the door to play after making myself breakfast. Only rule was checking at lunch and then be back when the street lights came on... many fun and interesting times! If you didn't check in or get home in time, then you were in trouble! As long as I followed the rules, my parents left me alone. Also, as long as I or my friends didn't do stupid stuff like break windows, vandalize things or stuff like that, I kept my freedom. I LOVED my freedom and had my fun, but respected the covenant between my parents and myself.
 
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