Recall something (wrong) your parent did when you were a kid

[NFLDERS]

That now as an adult you know was unacceptable.

When I was about 8, and my younger brother 6 yrs of age we were with our Dad in our backyard. My Dad had a hose in his hand, and was having "words" yet again with a neighbour over the fence. I remember her always going on about something or other.

My Dad turned the hose on her. She quickly retreated into her home, and I don't recall any more "words" over the fence ever again.

This was me as a kid then, not the adult me now..

 

[NHdisneylover]

I am an only child with just 7 cousins, two of whom are also only children and we were very close.

When my aunt divorced my uncle, she was having an affair with someone. She came to visit us twice and was openly dating him while visiting and I was told not to tell anyone.
He moved from the state they lived in to the one we lived in and when she filed for divorced she and my cousin moved in with us for a while.

I was told by her and my parents that I had to pretend he was a friend of my dad's (totally not believable, my dad is such a recluse) and pretend there was nothing going on between him and my aunt--she did not want her son (my cousin) to know about the affair or for her ex to find out before the divorce was over as it would hurt her in court. He was at our house, and clearly there for her most days of the 8 months they lived with us.

Looking back now, I can't believe a 12 year old was told to help an adult cover up her affair and I was told to directly lie to my cousin about it. That time period ruined our close relationship and we have only been acquaintances since. I felt very caught in the middle and upset by it then, but it wasn't until I was an adult that I realized how off it was for adults to put a kid in that situation. I'm really surprised my parents didn't tell her that she could not bring him to the house and would have to go out to see him without me or my cousin around.

 

[ronandannette]

Love covers a multitude of sins and although my parents were far from perfect and I was mortified to even be seen with them for most of my adolescence, looking back now all I can really remember is their general strength of character, integrity and the very loved and protected life they made for me. My DDad has been gone for 15 years and my DMom is lost to dementia. There's literally nothing I can think of specifically to "call them out" on and I'd give a lot to have them back, even on their worst day...

 

[NewRVLady]

Once-we were supposed to clean up the building where we stored our bikes-it was also our imaginary playhouse, the place we made into a "Haunted House" at Halloween and charged a nickel to walk thru-
anyway we did't and mom was FURIOUS
she yelled at us and used the word "dam".....we KNEW she was angry!!! boy we cleaned it up FAST!
(I never before or since heard a curse word out of her mouth)

 

[momof1princess]

My dad drank a LOT when my brother and I were growing up, and I recall more than one occasion where he drove us around while clearly intoxicated.

 

[StitchBuddy]

Hmm, my parents made many mistakes, but I try not to judge them, because I know I have surely made plenty myself.

 

[lizabu]

My Dad always had a hot temper. There are multiple times I can think of when he would get mad and drive like a maniac or get mad and break something or get mad and come close to getting into a physical fight with someone. We stopped going to church after my dad nearly got into a physical confrontation with our minister. I didn't like going to church so it worked out for me. Stuff he used to do when he was mad would get a person arrested nowadays. He's settled down with age.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

Divorcing

 

[soccerdad72]

Years and years of smoking in the car whenever we went anywhere. I can't imagine how much second hand smoke I inhaled as a kid.

 

[Ariel Wanna-be]

Nothing major, but this comes to mind:

When I was about 4, I was grocery shopping with my mom and asked for some Honeycomb cereal. I'd never had it, but the commercial made it look so dang good (Honeycomb's big, yeahyeahyeah...it's not small, nonono...).

She leaned down and very conspiratorially whispered that I didn't really want that cereal....because "Honeycomb" was French for ****.

I totally believed her, and for years would argue with my friends about it.

 

[lecach]

When I was about 10 and with my Dad for the weekend (parents were divorced) my Dad and I rode with a few friends of his to the Nascar race in Charlotte. After the race there was a concert and the guy who drove (Steve) was a bit drunk and didn't want to leave. My Dad had me go up to Steve and ask for his car keys. He didn't hesitate and gave them to me. So my Dad and his other friend and I left - in Steves car without Steve. Not sure how he got home. And not sure that my Dad who drove was all that sober either.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Dad jumped into the oncoming lane to pass a car one time on a blind curve. He was always such a cautious driver & immediately apologized. I wasn't horrified, in fact I was rather impressed at how well the truck accerated LOL But, it was wrong & for whatever reason, I remember it.

 

[Grmnshplvr]

Unfortunately none lighthearted enough to share here

 

[Minnesota!]

Welllllll, in kindergarten, the teacher asked me "Do you know what you are supposed to do at a red light?". I replied "That's when daddy takes a sip of his beer...".

I have/had fantastic parents....we are just a very German/Scandinavian family...alcohol is a big part of everything. Apparently, driving at one point, as well!

 

[Miskey]

I can remember being very young and going to the store to buy cigarettes for my mother many, many, times

 

[kimblebee]

My dad was by no means an alcoholic but he enjoyed a few drinks at dinner. I can remember a few car rides home where he shouldn't have been driving. Not weaving in and out of lanes mind you, but not quite stopping at the stop sign..more of a rolling stop.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

My dad was by no means an alcoholic but he enjoyed a few drinks at dinner. I can remember a few car rides home where he shouldn't have been driving. Not weaving in and out of lanes mind you, but not quite stopping at the stop sign..more of a rolling stop.

I think that was much more common then. I can remember riding with my dad at times I know he shouldn't have been driving. Certainly didn't understand it so much then, but it's a scary understanding today.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

I can remember being very young and going to the store to buy cigarettes for my mother many, many, times

Yep, my mom bought them a carton at a time but always sent me or my siblings to get them.

 

[ez]

I remember when I was very young my mom would tell me she hated me and sometimes I wasnt allowed to call her mom I had to call her Mrs. (our last name) I think I grew up pretty much knowing my mom was a bit nuts, she would go crazy over anything and take away my favorite books and smash my toys. You never knew what would set her off it could be the tiniest thing My mom has mellowed over the years but I do think there is a mental illness there. Especially now that I have my own kids I see how unnatural that is to treat a (young) child that way.

 

[pryncess527]

I was only 12 when my dad died, I'm quite sure he was 100% perfect I'm sure my mom made a mistake or two, but I honestly can not recall them now. My mother always jokes about my memories from childhood, she says I remember the strangest things and often things she has no recollection of, but my memories are always such happy ones, she's content to not argue with me about whether or not it actually happened, lol.