For me......I was born in the early 70's.
My mom divorced when I was 1 and remarried when I was 3.
My step-dad was my daddy - I loved him very much (he just passed away 3/17/15)
I love my parents very much!!!
My parents were/are conservative, religious and strict.
We had a total Leave it to Beaver house (I'm not saying that negatively)
There were many things that I wanted to do, but wasn't able to do them.
I don't know why - maybe it was finances - I've never asked
I spent alot of time with my grandma, who I was very close with.
She was a VERY strict and strong woman - the type that would say "don't cry or I'll give you somthing to cry about." When she would be combing my long hair if I started to complain she would say, "don't complain or I'll pull harder." This may sound like pure evil, but I thank God every day for how she was, because I'm a strong person today because of her. I miss her so much!! She was my rock - someone I could talk to about something and get a total no BS answer. I can't even bring myself to take her phone number off my phone and she's been gone for 9 years.
How does my upbringing reflect how I parent?
Well, because I wasn't able to do certain things, I made sure my girls have been able to do things.
DD#1 played soccer at the rec, travel and HS level. She has a beautiful voice, so she takes voice lessons and is in a traveling HS choir along with being in the HS theater company. She enjoys taking photos, so she took a photography class and is in the HS publications dept. She loves weather so she took a weather class and is certified weather spotter and is now doing weather reports for the HS paper and website. She's pretty crazy busy!!! (all by her choice - I/we follow her lead)
DD#2 plays softball. She was rec and is now travel. She's a pitcher, so she takes lessons, participates in softball camps and practices all the time. She's also a Girl Scout.
Because my mom was conservative I wasn't able to wear makeup until I was a Freshman and my style of clothes had to be a certain way. I'm not real conservative, so DD#1 was wearing makeup by the time she was in 7th grade and DD#2 is dabbling with makeup now. I have certain lines I don't want DD#1 to cross with her clothes, but I can say she wears mountains of stuff I was never allowed to wear. DD#2 is no issue with clothes, because she's my little athlete that just wears yoga pants and different softball shirts.
My mom didn't allow me to watch rated R movies until I was older, and that is one thing where we are the same. IMO, kids are so desensitized to violence and foul language because of the all garbage they watch and hear. DD#2 has never seen a rated R movie, and nor does she want to. I told her that now that she's almost 12 I will allow her to watch The Hunger Games and she has no desire. Now that DD#1 is older I'm ok with her seeing some rated R movies, but I don't want her watching Fifty Shades of Grey.
My upbringing with my Grandma made me pretty firm with my kids, but not nearly as firm as she was (this is the 2000's afterall). I would be considered strict for today's standards.
My Dad is the only person that would say "I love you" to me, and it's not because my mom and grandma didn't love me, it's just something that wasn't said. They were never cuddlers and big huggers either - not a lot of touching (I'm not condemning them for that - I knew I was loved). Because of this, I tell my kids all the time they are loved. Every morning before school, every time we say goodbye on the phone, every night and just random times during the day. Lots of physical interaction between my kids and I. I love to hug them, kiss them, cuddle during a movie with them, have them crawl into bed with me etc. They are my babies now and always!!!
My parents weren't perfect, but neither am I.
I hope my kids love me and much as I love them.