Sunday, August 12, 2012

10 Things My Parents Did Right

My family has had its fair share of dysfunction.  But even as a child of divorced parents and various step-parents, I certainly recognize several things my parents did right.  Now that I'm a parent myself, I can appreciate these things and more:

1.  Both parents taught me the value of hard work.

2.  My mom, true to her Libra roots, always had that work-life balance thing under control, and she led by example.

3.  Both parents encouraged my various athletic endeavours, and I grew up knowing that what my body is capable of is so much more important than what it looks like.

4.  My mom always used the proper names for male and female anatomy and made it clear that I should never be ashamed of my body nor any of its functions.

5.  My dad was financially able to provide me with many opportunities, which is a large part of what landed me in the fortunate position in which I find myself today, but he always provided just enough to do something, and never enough to sit around doing nothing.

6.  They were generally scary enough that I didn't misbehave (too much), but approachable enough that I could talk to them.

7.  They allowed me to follow my own interests and didn't try to live out their own dreams through me.

8.  They remained civil and did their best not to make disparaging comments about each other to their children.

9.  Both parents have ended up in beautiful, loving relationships, and they model what love and commitment should look like on a daily basis.

10. Above all else, they loved me, and I never, ever doubted that.  Ever.

Go visit the Listmaster for more retrospective parenting tips!

18 comments:

  1. Your parents sound like wonderful people! Kudos to them for putting you first!

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  2. So nice. I loved this: "always provided just enough to do something, and never enough to sit around doing nothing." Great advice on where to set limits. Ellen

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  3. What a great list - they sound like wonderful parents who really encouraged and supported you.

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  4. Clearly your parents did well with you :)

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  5. Great parents! And so important that they remained civil during the divorce! It breaks my heart when parents can't see the damage they do to their kids if they get nasty.

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  6. Awww...great list! It sounds like they did you well!

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  7. adore #3! that was what my mom always tried to get across too. while other girls around me were throwing up or starving themselves, I was out running or at the beach playing volleyball. which also happened to be where all the cute boys were ;)
    your dad was one smart cookie about the money thing too.
    great list.

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  8. A great tribute to your parents! You turned out awesome so they must have done things right!

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  9. Your parents sound amazing, Amanda.
    P.S. I was hoping this was a post about your new little bundle ;)

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    1. Me too, but no doubt it will be soon!

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  10. Individually they sound like great people. Showing is just as important, if not more, than saying... very fortunate of you to have both!

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  11. I want to learn #6 so bad. Never realized this is such a challenging part of being a parent and my grandpa was a master of that as well. Lovely list my friend. are you in labor as I type this. I have this funny feeling you are...

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    Replies
    1. Not yet, but keep sending labor vibes, please! :)

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  12. I like #5, what a great lesson to have taught you! Too many kids just get things handed to them without learning the value in working towards something.

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  13. Great list! I especially like #5.

    And so happy to hear you had your baby. Congratulations!

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