Here , Here. I am not going to say my parents did a bad job. I do believe they did the best they could. But my parents are very much the opposite of how I want to be a parent. My dad never showed us hardly any affection. A bear hug every now and then was a treat I looked forward to. In fact I can barely remember him being around. He never came to school activities and neither did mum from what I can remember. She would do pony club with me etc but that was because it was an interest she shared. Dad came to a show once but did not stay long. We were always burdened with the family finances for as long as I can remember and when I first started working I used to hid the new shoes or clothes I would buy myself cause we always got hit with the guilt trip of hoe many bills were due and that they would like new things too but had to pay bills. We always paid board as soon as we started working and we had to share the bills and buy our own toiletries. So saving was something we could never do as kids. I paid for all my horses and their needs myself, which took a lot of what little income I was earning as a check out chick. I always hear that parents are still helping their adult kids with money. My SIL wouldn't be where she is today without the hand outs she gets from her parents. DH doesn't get the hand outs cause he is a boy and now that we are married they assume we don't need any help (go figure). But I can only remember once or twice that I borrowed money from my folks but I assure you it had to be paid back. I guess this has made me more smarter with money and responsabilities although sometimes I felt it was a bit tough as a kid to be weighed down so much with the financial responsabilities of my parents.
That I will never do to my child. They will learn to respect money, but I will never use guilt trips on them and make them feel bad for enjoying their earnings.