There's a quote by Brad Meltzer that reads, "No matter how far we come, our parents are always in us." After having successfully completed my first semester in college, I can undoubtedly confirm that this is true. I carry the lessons my parents have taught me everywhere I go. I’ve learned so many things from my parents over the years, and I am so thankful for all that they do.
1. Thank you for showing me how a real marriage should be.
My parents just recently celebrated their 27th wedding anniversary, and they have always shown me that while a marriage isn't easy, it's extremely rewarding. My mom and dad married young, and have endured lots of challenges throughout their marriage. However, they've approached any possible hurdle with communication and teamwork. The love that they have for one another truly inspires me to find my own spouse one day, but they've shown me that marriage won't always be rainbows and butterflies. It takes a lot of hard work and commitment to make a marriage work, and clearly they've done that.
2. Thank you for treating each other with kindness and love.
When my friends from high school used to come over to my house, they would always want to hang out with them -- almost more than they wanted to be around me. I think this is because anyone who is around my parents sees how much they love each other, and that kind of love is just contagious. My dad still consistently tries to woo my mom with compliments, as if they weren't already married, and my mom goes out of her way to make my dad feel validated and important. This has shown me not only how to treat my future spouse, but how to deal with people in general.
3. Thank you for always supporting my dreams.
My sister and I have consistently wanted to achieve huge things, and we have always had our parents' support. When I wanted to work at McDonald's as a kid because I liked the headsets, my parents supported me. When I wanted to become a pop star like Britney Spears, they supported me. As I got older, my dreams became more practical, but they still gave me their undying support -- and tuition money. I'm attending a prestigious liberal arts college because of their support, and pursuing a degree that isn't necessarily "conventional" but is one that I love. They've taught me to never stop going after what I want, and they've given me the means to do so.
4. Thank you for knowing when to be my parents, and when to be my friends.
Don't get me wrong, when my sister and I were growing up, my parents definitely disciplined us and taught us right from wrong. As we became teens, they were there to impart life lessons on us while also listening to what we had to say and constantly communicating. These days, at the ages of 18 and 22, my sister and I need our parents as friends, too. My mom and dad recognize this, and know when we just need someone to vent to. They're people who I love hanging out with, and I look forward to my visits home, because I know I can spend time with them. They're consistently there to give advice, and I know they only have my best interest at heart. I am so thankful to have parents who have shown me how to live my life, and reinforced their life lessons with advice.
Thanks so much, Mom and Dad. You'll truly never know how much you mean to me, but this is a start. I can't imagine what life would be like without parents as supportive, kind, and loving as the both of you. I know that no matter where I go in life, I will take your love and motivation with me. Y'all are truly the best.
