Growing up, it seemed like my parents and I couldn't even agree to disagree. Every argument, no matter how minuscule, ended with tempers high and no conclusion in sight. My parents are stubborn in their ways and, with me being their child, I was just as stubborn, if not more so. I always assumed that I knew best and they were sure that I didn't— and were justified in thinking so. It seemed to my teenage self that my parents were out to get me.
The hassling about my education, curfew, and overall life seemed to to never end. The constant punishments due to unsatisfactory grades in middle school made me dislike school and, in turn, led me to revolt and turn into the immature kid that I was. Because my curfew varied between 9 and 10 p.m. in junior high, I always felt like I missed out on all of the fun that my friends partook in after my curfew (whether that be ding dong ditching or sneaking beer out of our parents' fridges).
As I am sure every teenager has done at some point, I put my friends before my parents. I spent more time hanging out with kids, who were equally as ignorant as me, than I did studying and trying to better myself. When my parents gave me advice it went in one ear and directly out of the other, with little recollection and even less retention. If I had listened and taken to heart the knowledge that my parents supplied, I would've made a lot fewer of the dumb decisions that seemed to flock to me— or, rather, I flocked to them.
In my teenage eyes, my parents were overbearing, unnecessarily strict, and the exact definition of "old school." Looking back at my parents' rules and restrictions, I cannot say that any of them were to purposely limit my fun or to be cruel, but to protect me from the dangerous situations that teenagers all too often get themselves into. As I grew older, I started to realize that my parents were right and began listening more often. It's sad to say that my relationship with my parents didn't peak until I was out of the house and in college. I realized how much they meant to me and understood that they wanted nothing but the best for their child.
Considering my parents' less than ideal upbringings, I appreciate what they did to give me the best life possible and so much more. Both of my parents came from families with no college educations and little income. They joined the military to pay for college and worked full-time jobs while attending school at night— something that I can not even fathom. My parents worked to give me everything that I desired and, in return, only asked that I make something of myself.
I want to apologize to my parents, first off, for being the mischievous child I was. I also want it to be known that the accomplishments I have achieved thus far are the product of their parenting and care. I appreciate them for everything they have done for me.
