Parentals

#3-Describe your relationship with your parents.


I have amazing parents. I didn't fully appreciate them until I became a parent myself. Let me give you a few reasons why my parents ROCK.

1. They taught me responsibility. For as long as I can remember I have been offered choices, and with these choices I have been allowed to reap the consequences. I have always been held accountable for the choices I make, and I was rarely bailed out of bad situations. If I owed them money, I was expected to pay it back in full (unless the debt was written off as a gift). If I was failing a class, they would help me get the help I needed to pass... but ultimately it was up to me. They had expectations of me that helped shape me into the person I am today: I was expected to bring home no less than a 3.0 GPA. I was expected to attend school, church, and family functions. I was expected to keep a job and pay for my own "fun". I was expected to be kind and respectful to my family and friends. I love my parents for teaching me to be a responsible, functioning, contributory member of society.

2. They lead by example. They are a fantastic example of communication with each other, and with their children. Everything I know as a parent I learned from watching them. They are always there to offer a helping had, a word of advice, or just a shoulder to cry on.

3. They love me unconditionally. No matter how many times I screwed up, no matter how many terrible choices I made, no matter what I said or did, they still loved me. I know, to this day, that if everything else in my life is completely falling apart I can always go to my mom and dad because they love me.

None of this is to say that we haven't had our issues. Because, honestly, with people as strong-willed as we are you're going to butt heads every now and again. We're always able to talk through it, though. I'm so blessed and lucky to have them as my parents.

(I know I promised honesty in answering all of these questions, and all of this is the honest truth. Every last word.)