They bought me a drum set, let my band practice in the basement, and even drove us to all our gigs. They had hopes of me becoming a lawyer, but when I chose a different path, they embraced it. That support helped me realize I had control over my own life—I could choose what made me happy, knowing they’d always be in my corner cheering me on.
My dad was also incredibly fair. When conflicts arose, he’d sit me down to consider different perspectives. If I was genuinely right, he’d acknowledge it but still guide me toward resolving the situation peacefully. On the other hand, if I was wrong, he had a way of making me realize it on my own. That approach shaped my character and built a relationship of mutual trust between us. I knew I could always come to him, confident that he’d be honest with me—whether I was right or wrong.
One childhood memory that stands out involves a time when I asked my mom how far the freeway went and what would happen if we kept driving. Instead of just showing me a map, she said, ‘Let’s find out.’ We hopped in the car and drove for hours, eventually finding ourselves along the shore of one of the Great Lakes. Only then did she pull out the map to navigate our way home. She could have easily told me the answer from the couch, but she wanted me to learn and experience it firsthand.
Parent-child relationships can be challenging, but some people are fortunate to have parents who are a constant source of love and support.