Parental Guidance

My mother was my main influence and instructor in my life. When my parents split up, full custody was given to her. She was able to make good people out of her children. She raised us the best she could as a single mother on a beginning teaching salary. Susan Ricker, my mother, was able to instill morals and the understandings about right from wrong. She tried very hard to keep us (meaning mostly my brother and I) out of trouble but with two boys hurt from growing up without a father was to much to handle for any single mom; who worked day and night to further her education for the teaching position she deserved. She played the authority figure when she was around but not much good when she could not keep her eyes open. In our early years of growing up, around fourteen and fifteen years of age, we were basically out of control. I yearned for a father figure and the closest thing was my brother. I looked up to him. I tried to be like him and do the same things he was into and that just became a disaster. We both got into some bad things and we both ended up into rehabilitation centers. My brother, sent by my mother; law due to previous troubles forced me. We now have turned into good young adults and are very thankful for my mothers “iron skin” to stick with us through all of this. I think most this parenting style was effective because it caused us to learn from our own mistakes and mishaps. My mom was there to burn the facts of life into our thick sculls knowing what is right and what is wrong and how to overcome hardships. I think guidance and some punishment is always a key factor to mold children into future good human