What has been the MOST IMPORTANT thing taught to you by your parents?

[thekingofpain]

They paid little attention to my schoolwork-
They didnt advise me on my future-
They didnt assist in my social skills-
Sex? never brought up-
My father was a machinist by trade, mom a "housewife"
Pops didnt even attempt to teach me to use the tools we had in our garage:
Lathe
Milling machine
Arc and gas welders
Drill press
Bandsaw
Numerous airtools
Painting equip
Blast cab
a zillion very important handtools etc

Not sure why this was?
My best friend became a postman---as his dad was-
another- an electrician
got a pal thats a plumber like his dad
and others that follow in their pops footsteps:
a painter
an oilwell worker
an opthalmologist
a welder
a nurse
a mechanic
a trucker
a chef
an aircraft mechanic
a new car salesman
a pilot
a chemical eng
a ship captain
a house framer
a teacher
a brick mason
a physician
a roofer
etc etc

I may sound bitter but thats not the case, my Dad was a merchant seaman back in the day, but never told me directly of his "seastories" I only learned of his adventures thru sneak listening while he was with his drinking buddies that showed up in our very active garage---
The one thing he taught me that ive never forgot, and after he told me this I never asked for anything again, I was only told this once and within the only "private" conversation I seemingly ever had with my father:

***You can have ANYTHING you want in life, just get it yourself***

(my pals parents were buying minibikes, go-carts, sports equip, electronics, engaging in vacations, Boyscouts, etc as I mowed their lawns for 25¢ a copy trying to buy a bike on my own)

A VERY valuable lesson, I went to the merchant marine academy on my own after highschool (I was afterall a son of a son of a son of a seaman, it seemed natural, I did it without assistance from my Father and never consulted him)

Anyways---I did over a million miles by sea on ships like the "Loveboat" (an UNREAL experience!) which was interupted by me becoming "tkop" my parents taught me alot unknowingly and I wish I had my own children to teach them from MY experience---

What will be the most important things you will/can pass on to your own children???

Edit---> I might add, I was never hugged or told that I was loved---not once---something ive learned is very important to growing up...

from my dad girls come and go, and only time can heal they pain they cause

my mom, well lets just say my mom is alittle to open about things i don't care to know about.

The most important thing i will teach my kids is that i love them dearly, and i will support almost anything they do.

[caddmannq]

I guess I fall somewhere in between TKOP & his "lucky" friends. My parents did not support every (stupid) thing I did. I don't always support my kids, either. I think you must always "draw a line" somewhere.

My first and only bicycle came used from a thrift shop. I never had a minibike or a go-kart. I delivered newspapers to earn money. But when I graduated high school, Dad bought me my first car, from a junk yard for $125, and I rebuilt the whole thing. I did all the labor & he bought most of the parts and let me use his tools. In turn, I did all the maintenance on his cars and trucks for several years.

He paid for part of my college & I worked as a mechanic to pay for the rest.

I'm a computer geek, just like my dad. We both studied engineering, and both "fell" for computers.
He taught me a lot about computers, fixing cars, plumbing...lots of stuff; but the most important thing he ever taught me was "Read the manual." My mom was a big-time reader too, and so I became.

I guess the two things I passed on to my daughters was a yen for computers, and a love of books.

[crazyray]

Dad said, "Good grades are like money in the bank. They can buy you freedom, the freedom to choose what you want to do and where."

He was right.

[cadetstimp]

What has been the MOST IMPORTANT thing taught to you by your parents?

Self reliance and consideration for others

[Cruez]

Hey Caddmanq,

My life sounded pretty much like yours...And my parents were pretty well set financially.....

My first bike came from the flea market... My second one I built piece by piece. I never even had one of those battery operated powerwheels...

I had a small ($5.00/week) allowance until I started working.. When I did start to work I paid my parents gas money to drive me to work to until I got a car. My first car was bought on a co-signed loan and the car sat in my driveway until I had enough money to pay for the insurance. I worked two jobs from when I was 16 until about 21 just to have extra money.
When you work for what you get you respect it more than if it is handed to you... Everything that I own, I worked for.
I learned to work with my hands by trial and error. I can rebuild a computer, I have restored a few cars, and I am now building my first house....and I haven't hit 30 yet.

Its all what you want to make out of life...

I would say self reliance also...

[S.D.Willie]

responsibilty and respect

did i mention that i DID call in sick today to sit home and watch office space though?

[Gibbo]

I guess my dad has taught me to relax, in his own little way.

Him being ex-army & living with him after my mum moved out, from the age of 11. The arguments were constant, but we both learned to avoid confrontation or at least how to disarm confrontaions. as a consequence everyone i know says I'm the most laid back & chilled person they know

My mom taught me to help ppl.
My dad died before he could teach me anything.

[Philip1952]

These things were impressed upon us kids when we were growing up.
Respect your elders
Be self reliant
Stand up for what you did.
Then these three questions concerning fighting.
Is this Issue worth fighting over?
Is this issue worth killing a person over?
Is this issue worth you dieing over?

If you couldn't answer yes to all three questions above then walk away. The first question is easy for a lot of people. The second two can be the result if something goes wrong during a fight. So be ready to apply the third item down.