Thank you, it's been a while now since I started improving things so it's easier to look at this more objectively.

I was harsh on my parents in that post, they were dysfunctional but my mother loved all of us in her own way and spent her whole life arround us, and I can't say a lot of good things about my father - dealing with my mother in those days would break anyone.

I'm on good terms with them now and they are in a better place now that we're grown up and independent.

I wonder if things would have turned out the same if your mother hadn't cared about you. My theory is that love from parents and family growing up is hugely important for a happy life.

Hard to optimise through political solutions, unfortunately. Just handing out money probably won't help so much, like you observed. Generous parental leave rules might be useful.

And a well functioning social safety net (which also requires money from the state) to catch the youth who suffer from parental neglect and/or lack or resources. You can have role models aside from your parents.

Sigh this hits me really hard looking back. Oh well can only make the most of tomorrow

Was it in the Balkans?

Yes, I grew up in Croatia.

Odmah sam prepoznao. ;)

Similar reaction, not so teary though :)

I grew up in similar circumstances, and it still affects my mindset. It's changing, but slowly.

It helps a lot to read others' stories.