I learned what few manners I got from Girl Scouts. I wasn't raised; my parents were always away, working, leaving us to fend for our own breakfasts before school. I remember lots of times breakfast was Twinkies or ice cream, just to stop the hunger in time to catch the bus. They were too busy to bother with our lives, our sibling fights, the bullies at school, they resented it if we asked for help with homework, so we avoided asking. At least they didn't care if we got good grades or not.
The bills were always paid, there was always a roof and food and huge amounts of presents under the tree every year. But we really just wanted more time with our Mom, but she was working 2nd shift and sleeping days. Dad would fix our dinners because mom was working, and he wasn't great at cooking. Then he would watch TV all evening until bedtime, ignoring us.
This may be why we kids hated it so much, resented it so much, when our decade-older half-sister left and got married. She had taken care of us, some anyway. Its not her fault; she had her life to live.
Mom had a 'good work ethic' always working, plus a new hobby every year: painting, ceramics, lotteries, pottery. I felt many times, then and now too, if she didn't have time to spend on her kids, she should not have had us. I would rather not have been born.
TV or computer games are not a babysitter and they aren't even minimal replacements for parents. Kids aren't supposed to be hobbies; children are a full time responsibility.
I will note that of us 5 kids, isn't it 'interesting' that only that older sister ever had children of her own. I am age 47 now and I know it was the right decision for me to not have children.
