Or as my Father told me when I was a whining 13 year old who had to work at my Dad’s Business to get an allowance, “nobody owes you a living so shut up and get back to work”.
Ward Cleaver he wasn’t, but those words served me well.
The thing my parents, which all parents probably should do, is be a team. My Mother just may have been the best person I have ever known. Kind, gentle,loving, tender, and brave as they come. Daddy was tough and I thought too tough at times but I think he was making up for Mother being so kind.
For instance I got to noticing if Mother was gone Daddy was easier on us than normal. Whatever either did the other would back them up. They had us in church just about every time it was open. They also had the preacher over for Sunday dinner around once a month.
Our preacher in a small country Southern Baptist Church had a PHD from Yale Divinity School. He was retired as President of a Seminary and just preached in retirement. He knew how to stay on Mother’s good side as he constantly bragged on her children and how well behaved we were, which was true btw. He also bragged on Mother’s cooking, again rightly so.