Me: Mom, can I go out tonight?
Mom: Did you clean your room?
Me: Uhmmm…no.
Mom: Did you do the laundry?
Me: Uhmmm…no.
Mom: Did you do your homework?
Me: Yes! Can I go out?
Mom: Definitely not.
Anyone with strict parents knows that the above dilemma happens all too often. When they finally tell you that you can go out, you are still faced with the Spanish Inquisition. Where are you going? When will you be back? How are you getting there? What model car does so-and-so drive? Will there be drinking? Will there be lots of people? And, oh yeah, when will you be back home?
In the life of a socially inept adolescent, strict parents are a constant struggle. However, there is also an upside to the whole process. Well, actually, a few upsides.
The 4.0
When I was in 8th grade, I got a 95% on an assignment and my father asked me what went wrong. Strict parents, if nothing else, make you obsessive about your grades. Though this might be obnoxious when your high school friends want to go out and you have a test the next morning, it becomes slightly less obnoxious when you graduate valedictorian of your class. *waves from stage* Thanks mom and dad!
Teaching me what a work ethic is.
I am convinced that the main reason I have an insane work ethic is because it actually takes months to convince strict parents to attend an event.
Me: Hey mom, I want to go to a prom thing that is like 2 months away and I would be just going with my friends and I can take you dress shopping with me. Can I go?
Mom: I’ll think about it.
Me: *scuttles away to clean my room, do my homework, and complete a 30 slide powerpoint presentation as to why I should be able to go*
Sometimes, no means no.
When your parents say “no” to said innocent event, it is the unspoken rule that you do not ask again. Ever. Your friends might say that you can change their mind. You can’t. Resistance is futile.
You are never intimidated by anyone ever.
No one is as intimidating as strict parents when they are lecturing you. I do not care if you are king of the world, the most important person on the planet, or my future boss. I’m not intimidated by you and I probably never will be unless you spontaneously turn into my dad.
You are the best mannered human at work dinners.
Another one of the upsides of having strict parents is that your manners are impeccable. You probably went to cotillion and, even if you didn’t, you were forced to sit through meals in which your father lectured you about table manners. So, when you sit down at a business meal, you know that the outermost fork is for the salad and the spoon that your boss is using is the dessert spoon, not the soup spoon.
You are passionate and give 100%.
Whether you are convincing your parents of something or trying to gain their pride, you are passionate, hardworking, and give 100% in whatever you do.
Does this behavior change when you go to college? Hell no! Your parents are always breathing down your neck about something. Why aren’t you SGA President instead of being a lowly senator? Why do you have a 98% in that class? Are you struggling? Why don’t you have three majors? What are you going to do with your life?
No, no. The constant barraging of questioning never stops but, as time goes on, you learn to appreciate it. I am sure that in four more years, when I look back on college, I will thank my parents for stressing me out and lecturing me over winter break. At least, I hope I will.
