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Leto · 01-22-2008, 10:14 AM

Well, Let me answer and add some support....

Father went to college?

Yes - but only after immigrating to post war Canada from Germany and finishing Grade 13 (High school) while learning English at the same time. Since the war had interrupted his schooling he had a lot of catching up to do. As well he had to fight prejudice of not being WASP, but rather a dirty Kraut, still seen as the 'enemy' at the time.

Father finished college?

Yes. He was required to complete university in order to continue with his chosen profession as an English teacher. That's right, the German immigrant learned and taught English right out of high school. then the province required that a University degree is a necessity for the role, and so off he went, with a newborn son (me) to become a frosh at the age of 29.

Mother went to college?
Yes. as well as finishing school. She belonged to an 'establishment' family in the Lakehead.

Mother finished college?
Yes. - became an RN - the only accepted role for a lady at the time. Her 50th reunion of the graduating class was last September, and the survivors went on an Alaskan cruise.

Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor?
no.

Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers?
yes - if economic station is what is implied here. There are other issues that were very real in 1950's Canada all around religion/ethnicity.

Had more than 50 books in your childhood home?
Yes definitely. all avid readers.

Had more than 500 books in your childhood home?
most assuredly. Everything from pulp fiction to technical treatises.

Were read children's books by a parent?
Yes.

Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18?
Yes.

Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18?
Yes. - piano, swimming, baseball, hockey, curling, accordian, trombone, archery, canoing, skiing, horseback riding

The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively?
I would say so, unless they want to portray white male family men as narrowminded and/or stupid (i.e. Family Guy, World According to Jim, Everybody Loves Raymond, King of Queen's etc)

Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18?
No. no no nooo.... first card was offered to me upon graduation from university.

Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs?
no no.... Parents paid for my first year's tuition. I worked summers for the remainder. But then, tuition for me was $770 in 1978, and I think it is around $5500 now for the same programme. That's about one summer's savings.

Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs?
nope. self sufficient.

Went to a private high school?
No, but my high school acted elitist whenever we could.

Went to summer camp?
Yes. once or twice. YMCA camp.

Had a private tutor before you turned 18?
Royal Conservatory of Music lessons; math.

Family vacations involved staying at hotels?
Yes. - Florida for Christmas, Expo 67 in Montreal.

Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18?
mostly new, being the oldest, I rarely received hand-me-downs

Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them?
No, but I used my mother's car ('72 Opel GT) all the time:

There was original art in your house when you were a child?
Nothing famous. My mother painted her on her own. The '60's & '70's seemed to be a big "me" decade, where the 20 to 30 - somethings did stuff like pottery, painting, bowling, bridge parties etc...

You and your family lived in a single-family house?
Yes. Always, two of them we actually put in "in-ground" swimming pools.

Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home?
Not as much as I own mine now. My mortgage has been paid off for a few years now. Their's never did get paid off.

You had your own room as a child?
Nope, shared with my brother until I left for university. Then I had a room-mate. After leaving residence, I shacked up with my girlfriend, and now I am married to her. I guess that the only time I've slept in my own space was in a pup tent while tree planting!

You had a phone in your room before you turned 18?
Yes, Red Northern Telecom Contempra phone, with touchtone:

isn't it cool?
http://www.civilization.ca/media/docs/fs60s02e.html

Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course?
No, not required in Canada.

Had your own TV in your room in high school?
yes, a black & white Zenith 14 incher, with cable:

Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college?
No. We never had a clue back then, it was enough to earn tuition.

Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16?
No.

Went on a cruise with your family?
NNo, we did road trips in the station wagon.

Went on more than one cruise with your family?
No.

Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up?
Yes: The Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, McMichael Collection, Agnes Etherington Art Gallery.

You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family?
Very much so. Natural Gas was/is relatively cheap.

so, those are my stock answers. I guess the key point is what values did I take from this upbringing, and how is it translating to my children? My wife (whom I met at university) had a very different upbringing. Both of her parents were born in China, and she was raised as an immigrant's daughter. No frills to her childhood at all. Family trips were usually picninc outings taken by streetcar to High Park. Post Christmas blues were a reality for her as friends at school would compare their playful bounty against her parent's pragmatic gifts.

As a result, I/we have crafted a family approach that is pragmatic, but not tight. We spend as wisely as possible and have taken family trips to tropical locations, yet we own our house. We didn't leverage ourselves beyond our means. We enforced a 75% savings rule on our kids, in that 75% of all monies that they receive from birthdays, Christmas, part time jobs etc gets directed into their savings accounts. Since we finance all their essentials, the remaining 25% is all that they need for entertainment. This applies to the age of 18 (our first is that age now). This guy now has $12K in bonds, savings and registered education savings plans as a result of this approach.

I think the point that we are trying to cultivate is to not take things for granted.

01-22-2008, 10:14 AM	#38 (permalink)
Leto Junkie Location: The Danforth	Well, Let me answer and add some support.... Father went to college? Yes - but only after immigrating to post war Canada from Germany and finishing Grade 13 (High school) while learning English at the same time. Since the war had interrupted his schooling he had a lot of catching up to do. As well he had to fight prejudice of not being WASP, but rather a dirty Kraut, still seen as the 'enemy' at the time. Father finished college? Yes. He was required to complete university in order to continue with his chosen profession as an English teacher. That's right, the German immigrant learned and taught English right out of high school. then the province required that a University degree is a necessity for the role, and so off he went, with a newborn son (me) to become a frosh at the age of 29. Mother went to college? Yes. as well as finishing school. She belonged to an 'establishment' family in the Lakehead. Mother finished college? Yes. - became an RN - the only accepted role for a lady at the time. Her 50th reunion of the graduating class was last September, and the survivors went on an Alaskan cruise. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor? no. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers? yes - if economic station is what is implied here. There are other issues that were very real in 1950's Canada all around religion/ethnicity. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home? Yes definitely. all avid readers. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home? most assuredly. Everything from pulp fiction to technical treatises. Were read children's books by a parent? Yes. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18? Yes. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18? Yes. - piano, swimming, baseball, hockey, curling, accordian, trombone, archery, canoing, skiing, horseback riding The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively? I would say so, unless they want to portray white male family men as narrowminded and/or stupid (i.e. Family Guy, World According to Jim, Everybody Loves Raymond, King of Queen's etc) Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18? No. no no nooo.... first card was offered to me upon graduation from university. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs? no no.... Parents paid for my first year's tuition. I worked summers for the remainder. But then, tuition for me was $770 in 1978, and I think it is around $5500 now for the same programme. That's about one summer's savings. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs? nope. self sufficient. Went to a private high school? No, but my high school acted elitist whenever we could. Went to summer camp? Yes. once or twice. YMCA camp. Had a private tutor before you turned 18? Royal Conservatory of Music lessons; math. Family vacations involved staying at hotels? Yes. - Florida for Christmas, Expo 67 in Montreal. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18? mostly new, being the oldest, I rarely received hand-me-downs Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them? No, but I used my mother's car ('72 Opel GT) all the time: There was original art in your house when you were a child? Nothing famous. My mother painted her on her own. The '60's & '70's seemed to be a big "me" decade, where the 20 to 30 - somethings did stuff like pottery, painting, bowling, bridge parties etc... You and your family lived in a single-family house? Yes. Always, two of them we actually put in "in-ground" swimming pools. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home? Not as much as I own mine now. My mortgage has been paid off for a few years now. Their's never did get paid off. You had your own room as a child? Nope, shared with my brother until I left for university. Then I had a room-mate. After leaving residence, I shacked up with my girlfriend, and now I am married to her. I guess that the only time I've slept in my own space was in a pup tent while tree planting! You had a phone in your room before you turned 18? Yes, Red Northern Telecom Contempra phone, with touchtone: isn't it cool? http://www.civilization.ca/media/docs/fs60s02e.html Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course? No, not required in Canada. Had your own TV in your room in high school? yes, a black & white Zenith 14 incher, with cable: Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college? No. We never had a clue back then, it was enough to earn tuition. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16? No. Went on a cruise with your family? NNo, we did road trips in the station wagon. Went on more than one cruise with your family? No. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up? Yes: The Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, McMichael Collection, Agnes Etherington Art Gallery. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family? Very much so. Natural Gas was/is relatively cheap. so, those are my stock answers. I guess the key point is what values did I take from this upbringing, and how is it translating to my children? My wife (whom I met at university) had a very different upbringing. Both of her parents were born in China, and she was raised as an immigrant's daughter. No frills to her childhood at all. Family trips were usually picninc outings taken by streetcar to High Park. Post Christmas blues were a reality for her as friends at school would compare their playful bounty against her parent's pragmatic gifts. As a result, I/we have crafted a family approach that is pragmatic, but not tight. We spend as wisely as possible and have taken family trips to tropical locations, yet we own our house. We didn't leverage ourselves beyond our means. We enforced a 75% savings rule on our kids, in that 75% of all monies that they receive from birthdays, Christmas, part time jobs etc gets directed into their savings accounts. Since we finance all their essentials, the remaining 25% is all that they need for entertainment. This applies to the age of 18 (our first is that age now). This guy now has $12K in bonds, savings and registered education savings plans as a result of this approach. I think the point that we are trying to cultivate is to not take things for granted. Last edited by Leto; 01-22-2008 at 11:35 AM..