did you grow up in a household where both parents worked?

Question

And if so , how did it effect you? It seems there's a lot of talk about how children suffer when there's not a stay at home parent. But both my parents worked and I never had a problem with it. Then again it was only a couple hours between when I got home and when they did, so my own activities and interests pretty much filled the time. What was your experience?

Answer 1

My mom started back to work when I was about 10 and I know she was miserable at home, but that left us with my dad more, and we got to find out how crazy he was. Neither choice was good. I was the oldest so I took care of my siblings, but it wasn't that bad. Actually, we all liked it best when they left us alone, we got along great when they finally got out of the way. I wish my dad had worked more outside the home, that would have been perfect. But he was a minister so he spent quite a bit of time at home. If your parents are whacked, it's better to have them out of the house, I wish mine had stayed away more actually. Not all parents are good at it, some of us would have done better with less parenting.

Answer 2

My parents both worked, too. They were teachers. After work, they'd head straight for the bar and stay there until about 11pm just about every night of the week. I was the oldest of three kids...I had no real social life until my sisters were old enough to take care of themselves. Until then, I was responsible for taking care of them. I kind of grew up faster than most. I dealt with it as best I could at the time. I resented it though. When my sisters finally were old enough to not need me around as much anymore, I kind of went through a rebellious stage...I was wild in high school. I drank, did drugs, partied all the time...stayed out late...or all night sometimes. I turned into my parent's worst nightmare. I'm not blaming my parents' working for this, though. There were many other factors that played into it...most of which I am not really comfortable talking about here.

Answer 3

Both of my parents worked overtime almost every week of my childhood. I think that it really kind of messed up the work attitudes of both my brother and I. We're both really smart people, but we're kind of screw-ups in the work world, never done much professionally in our lives.

My Mom reads these posts sometimes, so Mom if you're reading I ain't cursing you, not in the slightest. They were doing what they thought was best, and at some point in your life you've just got to move on from feeling like you've been victimized by your childhood.

I also feel like my father stole a lot of his own life away from himself unnecessarily. As he was dying of cancer he spent the last few years of his life either unemployed or working in a fly-fishing shop, fishing several days a week. He was so much more mellow and laid-back than what I remember from my childhood.

Adds: I'm a stay-at-home father myself right now to a 1 1/2 year old.

Answer 4

I grew up in a household with only my Dad, so of course he had to work. I think the suffering only happens when the parents don't care. It was tough for both of us, and i grew up too fast for either of us. I spent a lot of time at sitters, day care, granny-type nannies, etc. when a small child, and taking care of myself as a teen, but he was the most affectionate caring and available Dad he could be. He worked hard at being my father, and I wouldn't change my life with him for anything.

Answer 5

Both of my parents worked while I was growing up. And honestly I missed my dad a lot because he has always worked more than one job. But besides that I was fine. We still spent time together when he was home, so I guess it balanced out

Answer 6

Both of my parents worked and when I got home from school, I did my homework then started preparing dinner.
My mother would come home for lunch and get things ready then leave instructions for me to preheat the oven at a certain time then put the meatloaf, or whatever, in and start boiling the vegetables at a certain time, set the table, etc.

It taught me how to cook and be responsible so it had a good effect on me.

Answer 7

Both of my parents were military, and when they both got out, they both worked full time.
I don't really have a good relationship with either. I don't think it is soley because they both worked (they are both poop-heads for other reasons in their own right) but I'm sure it might have something to do with it.

Answer 8

It definitely made me more independent. Since they both worked I had to fend for myself when it came time for dinner. And since I would always have either frozen food or preserved stuff it got old. So I would start making dinner especially when I was a teenager. So I would consider myself know a pro chef and amateur baker. But also meant that I didn't come home on time. But with school activities, sports and going out with friends it balanced out to where when i was young the weekend was family time.

Answer 9

Yeah both my parents worked when I was younger. It actually made me a more independent and mature person, which has helped me out now that I am older. I am only 20 years old, and I have my own place, great career, and I am married. I took care of my younger sister and she is turning out the same way I am. Both my parents worked, but they made time for me and my sister. That's what separates them from the rest who have problems. If your parents make time for you then you come out a better person.

Answer 10

My mother didn't work outside the home and was lonely, angry, resentful, depressed and climbing the walls - and took it out on me. She was part of an entire generation of women doped up on Valium and benzodiazepene sleeping pills. We know now that benzodiazepene's make depression even worse - doctors very rarely prescribe this highly-addictive stuff anymore.

People need balance in their lives.