Did you have a happy childhood?

[gbb]

Lets brighten the mood a bit, hopefully if my two posted they would say deffinitely yes!.

Took them away to Bridlington last week and plenty more trips to come this year. They thoroughly enjoyed it.

Not a cheap hobby but deffinitely money well spent imho.

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As young parents, we progressed from camping to camper trailer to touring van and had all our holidays with the kids in the UK, usually down the south coast.
The one thing above all else is giving kids your time, nothing else matters. My youngest son, now in his 30s, still fondly remembers those times, caravaning, sea fishing off piers, exploring the countryside....there's something about camping/caravaning, maybe it inspires our human need to explore, see stuff, do stuff we don't do normally...basically it's adventure, the best stuff a kid can ever have.

 

[subaqua]

No

 

[Mrs M]

Just seen "soccer dad" and his kids passing by.
Mr m says "they are lucky to have a dad who is interested in their football"
"Mine wasn't

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Makes you wonder, all those posting on here about their determination when bringing up their own children not to make the same mistakes their parents did in bringing them up, a) whether their children will grow up with the same view, b) whether their parents also started out with the same intent.

 

[keithmac]

As young parents, we progressed from camping to camper trailer to touring van and had all our holidays with the kids in the UK, usually down the south coast.
The one thing above all else is giving kids your time, nothing else matters. My youngest son, now in his 30s, still fondly remembers those times, caravaning, sea fishing off piers, exploring the countryside....there's something about camping/caravaning, maybe it inspires our human need to explore, see stuff, do stuff we don't do normally...basically it's adventure, the best stuff a kid can ever have.

Yep it's just getting away from it all, the kids are very good at making friends as well!.

We've been camping (tenting) for nearly 20 years but last summer holiday listening to the wind battering our tent in Northumberland and getting ready to bail out at 3am sealed the deal for buying a caravan!.

No tablets/ smartphones or internet for a week, no TV, just having to make your own fun as you go.

Spent hours on the games field with my lad just having a kickabout and a chat, nice to have no work stress just family time.

 

[gbb]

don't be fooled by what we write for the benefit of others, statistically children from a troubled home repeat the behaviours they've learned, just because we write that our children have everything and more than we did, doesn't mean we are not tyrants in our own homes and rule by fear rather than love.
.
I struggled with anger issues when younger until my mid 20's and at times wasn't a very nice person, my default response was violence, luckly this was aimed at other men but even to this day and all the efforts I've made to control my anger I still have a tendency to raise my voice and swear when stressed.
but
I was never told I was loved, I was loved, just not told, it wasn't the done thing at the time, when my children were born I made a promise I would tell them everyday that I loved them, my children 25,18,11 tell me they love me and thats all I really ever want or need from them, and if the only worthwhile thing I do in my life is that my children love me, then I'll leave this world a happy man.

This touched a nerve for me..
I'm nearly 59, my mum is 87. I told her about a month ago....for the first time I ever remember in my life..i loved her. I suddenly felt it NEEDED saying. Our parents never told us, we never told them. They did of course and we loved them, but it seems it might be a generational thing, my dad had a very austere Victorian dad. No problem, we were and are a tight family. But I tell my granddaughters all the time...I love them and they reciprocate with smiles that make your heart melt.

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Our parents never told us, we never told them. They did of course and we loved them.

Very true. My dad is 92 and has never told me he loves me and I can't imagine he ever will. Nor can I imagine me ever telling him, it would just be embarrassing. But I had a perfectly happy home life as a child, it never occurred to me that I was missing anything then and it still doesn't now. I think that the generations that followed have taken on expectations fuelled by all sorts of outside influences, sentimental American tv and film especially.

 

[gbb]

Very true. My dad is 92 and has never told me he loves me and I can't imagine he ever will. Nor can I imagine me ever telling him, it would just be embarrassing. But I had a perfectly happy home life as a child, it never occurred to me that I was missing anything then and it still doesn't now. I think that the generations that followed have taken on expectations fuelled by all sorts of outside influences, sentimental American tv and film especially.

It kinda was embarrassing, but in the same any my grandkids smiles are worth a million dollars, my mum's reaction was the same so worth every word.

Outside influences on the younger generation..maybe but also, maybe they've just thrown off some of the reservations we had but didn't even realise it.

 

[Mrs M]

Very true. My dad is 92 and has never told me he loves me and I can't imagine he ever will. Nor can I imagine me ever telling him, it would just be embarrassing. But I had a perfectly happy home life as a child, it never occurred to me that I was missing anything then and it still doesn't now. I think that the generations that followed have taken on expectations fuelled by all sorts of outside influences, sentimental American tv and film especially.

Just tell him

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Showing people that you love them is more important than telling them. They'll know by your actions, which speak volumes more than words ever can.

 

[Roadhump]

Showing people that you love them is more important than telling them. They'll know by your actions, which speak volumes more than words ever can.

I agree with that. My dad told me countless times that he loved me and that he was so proud of me, but he didn't invest in our relationship in terms of quality time (to use that nauseating cliche), he never took me fishing etc, he palmed me off on my uncle and his mate to go to the match even though he supported the same team as me, never came to see me on school sports day, or playing football, never took me for a pint, even though he drank every day himself.

I think my dad believed himself when he gushingly told me he loved me, and in fairness things like wok limited the time he could spend with his kids, but he hardly went the extra mile for us, I just think he had other (subconscious) priorities like being in control and top dog, and drinking. People see through words that aren't backed up by action, in any of life's settings.