Did you have a happy childhood?

Question

I am happy for all that had a happy childhood

Arabella,I used to think that happy children were the minority...

Freyja,,good memories ,they stay with you forever,making the bad seem not so bad after all...

Marianne...I have always envied you reading about your relationship with your parents,I am truly happy for you....

Falco...you turned out to be a fine clown.....lol

Katydid....sigh.....I so can relate to your life...{Huggs}

Gyorzxk....damn , I hurt myself again writing your name....lol
You do have soul,man....More than you know

Y!Abut...you are of course so right...we are what we make of ourselves...

Good or bad...you all deserve the best answer....well , maybe not the first dude.lol
Unfortunately I can pick only one , but I gave all of you a thumbs up....thank you

Answer 1

Interesting question. What I have realized is that I experienced some horrific trauma. At the time, I dealt with it as best I could- usually by compartmentalizing and just shutting down so as not to feel anything. I stayed away from home as much as possible to escape. So I did have lots of fun with friends. It was coming back to my family that was hard. And I always felt all knotted up inside. I really didn't know what to do with all those feelings. But honestly, I didn't know my situation wasn't the norm. Children don't have the where-with-all to say, "Wow, Mom and Dad are really screwed up." They just internalize it and survive.
My first college roommate was shocked when I told her about my dad's rage. "My Dad never yells at me," she said. I thought THAt was strange! It had never occurred to me that some people didn't live with all that anger in the home.
It wasn't until my mid 30's that all those stuffed feelings erupted. I had a meltdown. When I got help it was really surreal for me to see other people actually crying and getting upset when I shared my childhood. It seems so odd to write this, but it's true. I learned how messed up my childhood had been when others told me that life wasn't supposed to be that way. The real breakthrough came for me when I began to view things through the eyes of my youngest son. He is most like me in temperament. One day I was thinking about something very awful that had happened to me when I was his age, and I started to think how he would feel and what he would need if it happened to him. Then I thought about how I was treated and realized: wow, if I did that to my boy, it would destroy him. He would be so terrified and insecure.
The lights came on.
That's a long answer! Sorry. Basically, when I was a child I didn't know any better so I thought my life was ok and the uncomfortable feelings and fears were my fault some how. I thought I was supposed to be happy and tried to be. But the answer is no...I did not have a happy childhood. Hellish.

Answer 2

Yes. I got along well with the other wolf pups. Sure, we fought at times, but it was just good natured joustlng for dominance. Mom and dad were always coming into the den with a freshly killed rabbit or marmot. We were like most normal families. Both parents worked. It was dog eat dog in the workplace. Sure, we had our oddballs. Uncle fang liked to be the only alpha male with lingerie from Victoria's Secrets. I still wolf down my meals, but all that matters is that now, I know I canine do it, no matter what it takes. You just have to suck life down to the marrow. Kudos to you Einstein. This question was pure genius. It generated some great answers. Mine was silly, but the others were a glimpse into the soul. I have no soul, so you can't glimpse mine.

Answer 3

My early years were happy, as far as I can remember. My friends and I had the freedom to run in the town and that is exactly what we did.
My teen years were a little tougher. They were rather quiet and boring. Frankly I wasn't allowed to do very much. The only interest I had was horses and that is where is spent most of my teen years and on my sister's farm. That was good.

Answer 4

Brilliant ! So now that puts me in yet another minority group ?

Maybe people often expect too much of their parents. Or they're just whingers who won't take responsibility for their own lives. ie if you can't solve your problems (or won't try) then the next best thing is a good scapegoat, and what better scapegoat than "an unhappy childhood" ?

Answer 5

Happy? Not a whole lot? But I have a family that loves me and takes good care of me. So I cannot ever complain. Real happiness for me began with the infilling of the Holy Spirit. I Cr 13;8a

Answer 6

I had the privilege of growing up in a christian home in the Caribbean near the sea. How wonderful to fill close to God early in the morning listening to the birds sing and the sound of the wave beating on the shore. There is something special that connects you with God.

Answer 7

I am who I am, today, because of my childhood. Good or bad makes no difference. I could view my childhood as being bad, but someone else may see it as good. I am fiercely independent, my own person, and I actively seek my own solutions. I don't blame others for my shortcomings and I take responsibility for my own actions.
My parents may have been tough on me, but I owe them my gratitude. I was a tough kid to raise. They had to channel that headstrong personality to something useful and they didn't have a lot of resources to do that. To their credit, their hard-line stance kept me out of jail, off the street and in school.
In conclusion, life is what you make of it. My childhood was their responsibility. My life, thereafter, is mine.

Answer 8

Kinda - I was raised by a neurotic, a drunk, and a closet fascist. Naturally enough, I grew up laid back, relatively teetotal and liberal enough to deserve a slapping. That seems to have done pretty well in making me happy as a kid and happy as a grown-up.

Answer 9

Yes. I'm one of the lucky ones because my parents are still married (almost 27 years) and love each other as much now as ever. My two older brothers and I never wanted for anything we needed and we always knew, no matter what we did, our parents would love and support us.

Answer 10

I had a very happy childhood. My mother and father always included my sister and me in everything they did. We were all close and very supportive of one another. We ate as a family...talked as a family.... cheered each other on in everything we did. My mom and dad allowed us both to get involved wherever our interests took us. I danced, swam, acted, cheered, ran and socialized like a kid should. I had great friends.... great family..... great school.... and an amazing pet!! :)

It was wonderful. :)