My parents live by your morals and values, and I used to despise them for it. I always knew better, of course. I thought about shacking up with a boyfriend when I was 17. My parents said (with love) that I could make that choice if I wanted, but there would be consequences if I did. I was angry. But I couldn’t afford what I wanted to do, so I ended up not moving in with him. I was immature, and I’m thankful the relationship ended.
I chose to go to school and start growing up. My parents helped with car insurance and small bills while I began paying for bigger things. I graduated from trade school and went into the beauty industry. I met a wonderful man, and he asked my dad for permission to marry me. We tied the knot one year ago and moved in together as husband and wife. I even took your course “The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands” before we got married, and it has aided me in being the wife I’ve admired in my mother all these years.
I’m eternally grateful to my parents for not making it easy and giving everything to me, because I’m proud of the woman I am today – independent and strong. I hear you preach to parents to stop enabling their kids and I’ll add to that that parents should do their kids the justice of making them make it on their own. Many peers of mine have no idea how to live or be independent because of their parents. Instead, I was supported and encouraged, but had to be responsible for my decisions and my actions. By the way, my husband is deathly afraid of sharks, but he’d swim through that water for me!
Makenna
I’m Glad My Parents Didn’t Give Me Everything
The Dr. Laura Call of the Day Podcast
