Qotd: What's the most useful thing your parents thought you? (11/8)

[Saar]

What's the most useful thing your mom and/or dad thought you?
Or what's the most useful thing you're teaching your children?

[joelsgirl]

When I was learning to drive, I nearly ran off the road to avoid hitting a cat, and my dad told me that it was better for the cat to die than for us to die. I kid you not, that advice has stuck with me all of these years. In fact, a couple of years ago I was driving on the Interstate at night and a opossum ran out in front of me and I didn't even slow down. I was like, "My life over the opossum's life." Thanks, Dad.

My mom taught me that anybody will do anything under the right circumstances so I should never say, "I would never do that!" I think it really helped me to develop compassion for people who make bad choices because I am fully capable of making my own bad choices.

[KingsQueen82]

Hmmm, I think probably money management and basic stuff like budgeting, balancing a checkbook, that they don't really teach in school anymore! I come from a long line of income tax accountants and grew up in the family business. Our lives pretty much got put on hold from Jan-April every year during tax season but the rest of the year no one had to work much so we made up for lost time.

Anyways, growing up and around all that money talk, and seeing first hand how well she made her own money work for her and the fact that to her, debt is pretty much the worst thing possible, made me think thoroughly through all my own decisions before acting.

While I was in college my mom insisted I take a tax accounting course outside of school as well because she said even if I didn't work in our office, I'd always use it in my own life. And she was right, of course.

[Saar]

I totally agree Cassie. I work for an organisation where we help people who can't pay back their loans and are in serious debt. It's horrible to see what those money problems can do to a person.

[rach3975]

My parents' style was to teach by example rather than in more overt ways, and I feel like that's how I parent, too. Some of the most important things that I learned from them: treat people with respect, speak nicely to and about others, be responsible with money so that you have it for what's important, and make education a priority.

[SeattleSheri]

I learned a lot from my parent's mistakes

[nietis]

Originally Posted by SeattleSheri

I learned a lot from my parent's mistakes

This.
And from relatives around me.

[karlimarie]

Originally Posted by SeattleSheri

I learned a lot from my parent's mistakes

This!

[jaye]

My mom taught me to be independent and to make sure you have your own bank account and credit card when married (good advice as he drained the one joint account). My dad, not sure what he taught me.