Oh God, I have watched tis thread deteriorate to this level, and now I need to jump in.
My discaiimer:
I have one child, a daughter, who has just turned 30. still single.
Our family is still 2 parents, but both had full time careers from her age of 2.
I owned a FBO an charter company during all of her high school and college years. So, how many hours did she see me at home? But, she did see what I was doing, and why. And, that instilled a certain work ethic and drive, which I hope she uses today.
Now:
Yes, as Mega states, kids are infuenced by many people other than their parents over the years. But, they still need to get the "basic" infuence from home. Home can be the parents, grand parents, whatever. But, home is where all the good, OR NEGATIVE, is instilled.
Parents, as much as we want to be, CANNOT BE THE BEST FRIEND from age 0 to 18. After that, be a good friend, but be a parent. If it isn't right by then, too late anyway.
Do parents make mistakes??? Of course. Did anybody here get the manual? Did your parents show you the manuel they got????
Nobody is truly prepaired to be a parent, I know I wasn't. Did I make dumb mistakes? You bet. Will my daughter make some,, I'm sure. Hey, Mega,, you think you won't? I know you are way too intelligent to know better. It is a changing thing, that none of us get any schooling for.
But if you care, spend time, make the best of the TIME YOU HAVE, and it will all work out.
By the way, I never, ever spanked my child. We had the count of one, two, three. If she missbehaved, we just started counting s l o w l y, one, two, three. She knew something bad was going to happen at three, and even as an infant, knew she didn't want to get there.
Best to all parents, and those heading that way.
Hung