It goes without saying that we love our parents.

They’re the ones who’ve sacrificed for us, helped us in times of trouble, been our guiding light when all we see is darkness. They’ve been our number one supporters, and best monster-fighters when we couldn’t go on any longer.

So it goes without saying that we love our parents.

But sometimes, our parents are wrong.

See, what I’m coming to realize is that most parents only vaguely remember being our age. They remember the highlights more than anything; crazy stunts, little to no thought process, passion about everything, and not afraid of anything.

They look at us, in our early 20's, and see a more reckless version of themselves, who, through the years, have settled down more than plenty and are at a completely different stage in life.

And for them, that’s terrifying.

I understand they don’t want us to make the same mistakes. There’s reasoning behind all of their ideas, things that will make them, and us, more comfortable.

But, sometimes I wonder, if being their version of comfortable makes us uncomfortable, is it worth it?

I have friends who loathe their majors. I have friends who can’t stand where they live. I know people who struggle to find a balance between their family, and their friends.

This is all due, in a very big part, to their parents. Yes, the people who are your biggest fans can also be your worst enemies. They’ll push you towards greatness, but sometimes, in the shuffle of things, forget that maybe this isn’t the greatness you sought.

In trying to protect us, they don’t let us make those crucial mistakes, and we miss out on important milestones, important memories.

For instance, any parent would tell you that a midnight ice cream run is a terrible idea. Why not just wait till morning? The grocery store will still be there. Why not just avoid problems altogether?

But if this were to happen, then those stepping stones into adulthood would never be reached. You’d never know that drivers at night are more reckless, you’ll never forget getting into a fender bender, or that ice cream tastes better straight from the pint, a plastic spoon in hand, and great friends by your side.

It’s great to listen to their advice, but sometimes, there’s nothing like the experience of it all. There’s nothing quite like that rush of excitement that comes from doing something you know will forever be imprinted in your mind.

So what if you’re a little reckless? This is what being in our early 20's is about. Do stupid things now, remember them later on, and have fun all the while.

If we are always held back by what is expected of us by our parents, or what is considered ill-advised by them, then we’ll never have these great memories that will last lifetimes.

I mean it when I say I love my parents.

But at 21, I want to taste this freedom, live life to its fullest, and never let anything, not my friends, not society, and not my parents, hold me back.