Wow Lynch..You really bummed me out. I'm so sorry you didn't enjoy your childhood, I can totally relate. My childhood sucked. Broke as a joke, fucked up ex-hippy parents, surrounded by alcoholics and drug users (early on...fucking 70's LOL), absolutely no supervision, on my own at 15, need I go on?
.I also went down the wrong path, hell you don't get knocked up at 16 coming from a good upbringing (well usually not). BUT and this is a big but (not my big butt
) I knew I was loved. There was never any question about that. That's what saved my sanity. Besides I turned out OK. Graduated highschool at 15, college at 20, good jobs even being a single teenage mom blah, blah, blah. Done patting myself on the back
. Boy, but I stumbled many a time. Lots of times I should have been dead or in jail. Thats what happens when you send a kid out in todays world without properly teaching them how to survive and thrive.
Oh and by the way after reading my post I realized that I made myself out to be a much better parent than I really feel I am. I'm constantly fucking up it seems, constantly plagued with guilt about did I do that right? Did I handle that right? Omigod I yelled at him cuz I'm PMS'd out, now his feelings are hurt, I suck, etc.,etc. That's parenting though. Nobody's perfect...you just have to do the best you can with what you have. And most importantly always go that extra mile and never get lazy or complacent cuz raising a child is the most important thing you will ever do in life. And I agree, making sure your child is happy is VERY important, within reason, you can bet your ass my son is not a happy camper when I make him do his homework or chores LOL.