Do you think you're a better parent than your parents were?

I know I am a better parent than my mother was, and my Dad, who was a terrific guy and a great parent for the times, stepped back too often to leave the bulk of it to my mother.
My generation (mid-range boomers) is one of the first generations to parent very mindfully, not relying on “the way it has always been done”.

I am absolutely certain I’m a better parent. I love my children unconditionally. My parents did not love me, emotionally abused me, and finally disowned me.

Absolutely.

My mother lied to me all the time and physically & emotionally abused me – and my father let it happen.

So yeah, I am miles better than them at parenting.

Huh. Interesting. Better than my mom? Not a chance. She was a canny person and a great parent. She couldn’t/wouldn’t give me everything I wanted, but she taught me how to be a better person. That is, after all, the role of a parent, isn’t it?

Better than my dad? Absolutely. It wasn’t really his fault, he had mental issues. He was great right up until I was about 11 and then he wasn’t. His big contribution to me was to make me aware of what mental illness looks like and how it can impact so many people around the afflicted person.

No, I’m as good as they were.

I didn’t have parents. Father died when I was 4 and my Mother was always at work or sleeping.

The only thing I learned about parenting from my parents I knew I never wanted to be one, my parents were not abusive,or mean, but from growing up it didn’t look like fun to have children,just a ton of work and sacrifice so ,were my parents better than me sure we always had a roof over our heads, food on the table ,and we didn’t have a lot of wants,but still I knew from a very young age I did not want to have children.

My Mom’s mother died in childbirth. Her Dad then abandoned her to his mother, who died 7 years later. My Mom was then passed around to different family members several times a year.
My Dad’s mother was very loving, while his father was a snake.
So how did they end up being such great parents?
I tried to be a good parent, but every time I changed how they were, I stepped in deep shit.

I did the best I could and I know that’s what my parents did as well.

My parents did the best they could but they didn’t know that much about raising kids. I learned more and supported our kids more than they did.

@rocketguy I have always liked your mom.

@Caravanfan – your parents were top notch. Gave me a new perspective on parenting.

@RocketGuy Thanks. I think we both turned out okay.

Sure am. Boomers had their hearts in the right place, but were still pretty close minded and ignorant about the basics. If the folks hadn’t broken up and left me to raise mostly raise myself, I might have followed that a straight line to success and middle class comfort, until I put the gun in my mouth.

To a degree, yes. Because I have no children.