Growing up, I never really liked having ‘older’ parents. My parents married pretty late compared to society's standards as my Dad was 39 and my mom 37, with my brother and I coming along a year and four years later, respectively. In comparison with the rest of my friends’ parents in elementary and middle school, they were a good decade or more ahead of them, and for a young child that seems like a lifetime. They were never what you considered the ‘cool’ parents, but as I grow older I've started to appreciate that fact. Instead, due to their age and growing up in the '50s and '60s, they instilled some great wisdom in me and opened my eyes to some of the great culture of the time from movies to music. And for that, along with many other quirky jokes and stories they tell of a simpler time, I will forever be thankful my parents waited until the age they were to start a family. But today, I present you a list of my favorite songs I grew up listening to from the '50s and '60s, all thanks to my lovely parents.

1. "In My Life" - The Beatles (1965)

There was no question I had to start off this list with a Beatles song. The Beatles are probably my favorite artist from this era and I will forever wish I could have experienced them live in all their greatness. I always loved the story "In My Life" told, and as I grow older I appreciate it even more. As I’m entering adulthood I’m starting to lose friends and family I thought would be apart of my life forever. Whether it is because of death or they just aren’t apart of my life anymore, regardless it still is one of the harsh realities of growing older. And sometimes this song reminds me of how people in my life once were, reminiscing and wishing they hadn’t changed into who they are now. It is just a beautifully written and composed song in all its entirety.

2. "Tainted Love" - Gloria Jones (1965)

I heard this song too many times to count growing up as it is one of my mother’s favorite songs, and because of that it is one of mine today as well. It’s a great upbeat song about love that makes you just want to dance. The music and the lyrics perfectly intertwine to make this an infectious hit you just can’t forget.

3. "The Best Is Yet To Come" - Frank Sinatra (1964)

An ultimate classic Sinatra tune. Those of you who are unaware this was the last song Sinatra performed in public in 1995 and the words "the best is yet to come" are engraved on his tombstone, giving this song a lot of meaning. I always used this song as sort of an anthem of never giving up even when things seem impossible, because it will get better. You have so much life still to live, so why give up now?

4. "Can't Help Falling In Love" - Elvis Presley (1961)

As you might have already figured out I’m a sucker for love songs, and this one by Elvis is no different. It’s a classic, beautifully written tune about falling in love that makes me teary eyed and hopeful for love each time I hear it. You also can never go wrong with an Elvis song.

5. "Yesterday" - The Beatles (1965)

Another Beatles classic. It was so hard to just choose just one more as all Beatles songs are great, but this one will always be special to me. I’m sure most would see it as a love song, a man longing for yesterday to be with the one he loves again. But in the summer of 2006, the song took on a different meaning for me. My grandmother died that summer, the first time I lost someone so close to me, and I would play this song over and over again on my first generation iPod Mini, wishing for yesterday so I could have her back. The lyrics “Why she had to go? I don’t know, she wouldn’t say” will forever be ingrained in my heart.

6. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" - The Beach Boys (1966)

One of the more upbeat songs I have on the list. My dad used to pop a tape of The Beach Boys in our 1980-something Nissan Maxima on hot summer days in the '90s and this was always my favorite of the group. A pure song about youth and wanting to grow up, spending your days with friends and ones you love without a worry in the world. What I believe all of us hope to find in this world.

7. "What A Wonderful World" - Louis Armstrong (1967)

This song never fails to put me in a good mood. I remember days when I would come home stressed and upset from the day’s events in school (middle school was hard, trust me) and ask my mom to put on this classic. Whenever I’m down about all the sadness and cruelty in the world today I just play this song and I automatically feel a little better. It brings me hope that we all can return to that wonderful world Armstrong is referring too.

8. "Love Me" - Elvis Presley (1956)

Elvis had to have a second song on this list and to me "Love Me" was it. A less popular song compared to many of his other greats but it holds a powerful meaning. A beautiful love song about wanting more than anything to be with the one he loves and adores. And sometimes all any of us wants is to be loved, no matter the cost.

9. "The Christmas Song" - Nat King Cole (1961)

Christmas was always a time for bringing out the classics in my house and there were so many greats that sang the holiday favorites we all know and love. But something about this song and this version by Nat King Cole has always moved me. As soon as I hear the opening lyrics, “chestnuts roasting on an open fire…” I know the holidays are near.

10. "To Know Him Is To Love Him" - The Teddy Bears (1958)

I saved this one for last because it’s the one classic tune my parents would sing and play for me as long as I could remember. At a young age my mom would sing this to me as I fell asleep but change the lyrics to ‘to know you is to love you’, so this song was always a huge part of my life. And as time went on and I became older, this song grew a new significance for me. Ever since my early teens I told myself I wanted this to the song for the first dance at my wedding, as I find it represents such a pure and innocent kind of love, the love I hope to find in the man I call my husband one day. A couple years ago, I thought I might have found that man that embodied all the song was, and although that wasn’t the case, I’m still optimistic I’ll be dancing to this lovely song at my wedding one day.