Parents – as simply defined, are those who bring up and care for their children. Providing for basic needs, ensuring safety and protection, teaching life lessons and skills, and offering emotional support are just some boxes on the long list of responsibilities parents have when raising their children. When growing up, you never stop to think about how much your parents are doing for you as their efforts have become a part of the scenes taking place behind the story of your life. Your responsibilities were simple, go to school to learn your ABC’s and how to add and subtract with your newfound friends while your parents worked to get everything ready for you at home. Then, when you got home after the end of your “long” day you could show off what you learned in school to your parents, who would often smile and encourage you to keep learning. Things were simple back then with the efforts of, and you guessed it, your parents, but how often do you reflect on what they have done to help you grow?

As a child, my mom always ensured that I had something to do. While my siblings were in school, we would often go to the playground or go to the mall to talk, play, walk around and more. Besides this, we would also visit our town library to check out books, and I would run errands with her such as visiting the post office, which allowed me to get acquainted and familiar with those who worked there. Even today when I visit these locations on rare occasions with her, those who were there in my early childhood will recognize me and strike up a conversation. As I grew, we would practice reading together and begin playing games that would help my cognitive skills later on. To put it simply, growing up, my mom always ensured that I had something to do that would help me as I grew. 

My dad on the other hand was responsible for teaching me “basic life skills” as he put them in between the times with my mom. He taught me everything from swimming in the summer, to learning how to ice skate and later ski in the winter, and even learning how to ride a bike in the fall and spring. It even got to the point that sometimes when I did these activities with my friends, such as ice skating, some of my friends who weren’t as familiar with skating would ask me for help. I would never laugh or say no, but instead I would remember what I had learned from my dad and try to teach my friends (as best as a young child can) how to skate. Even nowadays, my dad teaches me how to drive in hopes that I can get my license later this year. While I have picked up many hobbies on my own, my dad was the first person to teach me these skills while growing up that I still use to this day. 

If you couldn’t tell, I am very grateful for my parents’ support over the years. It is because of them that I am the person I am able to be today. While nowadays life isn’t as simple as learning the ABC’s, taking a look back at what people have done for you, whether it’s parents or not, is a healthy time for self-reflection, remembering, and questioning what your life was like before versus what it’s like now. Have you learned anything new in the period of time between childhood to young adulthood? Have you grown or changed in ways that have helped you? Luckily for me, I can look at these questions and say that I have grown for the better, and it’s thanks to my parents.