What My Father Taught Me!

With all that is happening in the financial world today , I have been thinking a lot about my Dad; and things he taught me and my two brothers growing up in Brooklyn.  We were taught among other things: that the phrases, excuse me, please , and thank you, were not optional!  We were a middle class working family.  Mom and Dad always did what they had to do to keep moving forward.  At times Dad worked two jobs, Mom worked from home but we always had food on the table, shoes on our feet, and a roof over our head. When we asked for more then we could afford, Mom said go in the yard  and check the MONEY TREE (There was a tree in the yard that Mom called the money tree), she said if there was anything on it we could get what we wanted.  We never found anything but leaves. Anyway, although we always wanted  as kids, we always had what we needed . Whenever I would talk about what I didn’t have to Dad he would say you don’t know what it’s like to miss a meal, have holes in your shoes, and worry about you next meal.  He always hoped we would   never have to find out. Dad was a child of the depression , and that generation grew up (in a lot of ways) better then we did. They grew up appreciating what the had , never taking anything for granted. If they threw something away it was used to its full purpose or they saved it because it could be of some use some day. When I first received my real estate license Dad said how much does that job pay? To which I answered; I had to sell a house first and wait for it to close then I get paid.  Dad was not comfortable with that, then asked what if you don’t sell a house?  I always thought Dad was negative towards me , but this was not the case . Dad was afraid for me, after all he was a depression child. He remembered when! He remembered that the banks were giving free rent , just so there was someone to maintain the properties , because no one was buying . Dad wanted to buy more property through out his life but he always stopped short . He had a family to worry about. And what if? Dad did okay, and for his family he did great! We always had food on the table , shoes on our feet, and a roof over our head. He taught us: your word is your word , always appreciate what we have, work hard for what we want, and love for the family: they always come first. He also taught me that we are measured by our character, not the size of our bank account, the car we drive or the house we live in.  If your getting a day’s pay, do a day’s worth of  work .This is what my father taught me, and I hope I have passed on to my kids. Thank you Dad you are my role model!  Oh and Thank you Mom!

by Charles D’Alessandro and Brooklyn Real Estate Sales


One Response to “What My Father Taught Me!”

  1. Charles, This is truly a wonderful story. It shows us life through the eyes of a person who lived during the depression. We have a lot to learn from our parents. Thanks for sharing your great story.

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