I had to laugh faith..... I loved your story. I needed a smile. How did everything get turned so upside down?

edr.....my family didn't do "I love you's" or lots of hugs either and I recall at one time I questioned that. But, I came to the conclusion that I believe it was a generational thing (except for my Italian friends who I always envied) and after thinking about it....I never felt unloved. It was just not verbalized.

So we did the opposite of our parents, told our kids we loved them and look what happened? Isn't this all crazy? I think we need to keep a sense of humor..... So much better to laugh than to cry. Have a wonderful Sonday, everyone.

IronCowgirl - I think it is a little ironic I can think about happenings as I just posted and laugh about it. I realize my Father was trying not trying to be cruel or wanting to embarrass us, but rather teach us respect for God's house. He was a real stickler on that issue not like most today's churches. The one thing that stands out in my mind about what has been lost through the years is Respect. We now live in a "what about me" society and living double standard lives. Maybe we should brush up on the "golden rule".

I agree that Respect has been lost in our EC. It is true everywhere today including with children in schools. Our EC have not followed the commandment to honor their parents. Very sad. It is another sign of the times.

IronCowgirl, my mother had the wooden kitchen also. She also pulled my hair, and once pulled me by my ear into my bedroom for failing a math test. One day when I was a teenager, and playing my stereo too loudly.....my dad walked into my room, unplugged it, took it off the shelf, and walked out with it! It's kind of funny to me now. I lost my dad 11 years ago, and memories like that make me smile now.

Maybe I should have used that wooden spoon on my ED! Maybe that's where I went wrong!

Perhaps, if we had disciplined our children the way we were, things would be different. If not, at least we would know the reason behind the estrangement. To this day, every time I see a weeping willow tree, I remember the switches made from them. LOL It is funny now to think back but, I have no regrets or did I ever think my parents as abusive. There were times I was punished and not guilty of what I was accused of doing, but I figure it just made up for all the times I just didn't get caught! LOL
What is there to learn from being in "time ou?." I wished MY CHILDREN had sent me to "time out" occasionally. I would have loved just sitting quietly in a corner. LOL

Thanks everyone for your thoughtful comments! They have helped me calm down and have once again shown how common our experiences are. They have made me think and laugh, appreciate it!