thebabyperks

My parents are easily the best people in my life and I'm so incredibly lucky to be able to say that. So many people have either a horrible, or non-existent relationship with their parents but I'm on the opposite spectrum.

SLU Basketball Game 2014

A big part of this is due to the fact that my parents have let both my brother and I do what makes us happy. For a long time my dad was against my brother playing football but he saw that he was in love with flag football and eventually let him play "regular" football. My parents let me wear really ugly fabric headbands in my hair every day of middle school and never questioned it (or at least they never told me to my face). No-- but in all seriousness they let me quit swim even though I knew a small sliver of their hearts wanted me to stick with it for the year. I'm the happiest I've ever been in my life and I don't believe that would be the case if I didn't stop. 

Oklahoma Mission Trip

This brings me on to my next point. They're understanding.

I hear stories about people's parents being super strict and over-bearing but I've never experienced this. I don't have a curfew, mainly because I don't do anything and I value sleep too much to stay out past midnight (but that's besides the point). My parents trust me which is something I think a lot of parents lack. Other parents need to understand that they won't be able to keep their kids on a metaphorical leash forever and giving their kids some breathing room won't hurt.

Trizou Triathlon 2014

On top of Mauna Kea in Hawaii

Now some of you parents reading this may have a heart attack at what I'm about to say but give me a chance to explain. Also, sorry mom and dad if you don't want me to tell the world this. My parents never gave my brother and I specific chores *gasps*. It was just understood that we would clean up our rooms, take things off the steps, etc. I know this isn't possible for every family and I'm not judging/hating on you if you do have specific chores, I'm just saying that for my family things just fell into place. For example, I'm always in the kitchen baking so I'll do the dishes. My brother is usually upstairs in his room so he'll take the dirty towels down to the wash. Now, I am lucky enough that my grandma does our laundry (thanks grandma), so I don't have to worry about it. For the most part, though, we all just pitch in and do what we see needs to be done. I'm sure there were moments that my parents wished we had a strict chore chart but after reflecting on everything I think we're doing just fine.

Lava Rock beach- Hawaii

Hawaii

I think that another big factor into the person I am today is the fact that my parents have never given me everything I want. From a young age they taught me that just because I wanted something at the store doesn't mean I was automatically going to get it. I wanted a new computer so I saved my money and combined it with my birthday money, they didn't just hand me a Mac. Same with my first phone. In fact, my "first phone" I actually shared with my mom and even when I actually got a phone, I didn't get the Razr and iPod Touch right away like everyone else at the time. I got my Samsung phone and my iPod shuffle and I was fine. 

Hawaii

Another point I want to bring up is how blessed I am to have two parents who are still happily married. I sit through my classes and hear "yeah my dad moved out", "I'm at my mom's this weekend" or "my parents can't stand each other" countless times. Sometimes thing don't work out and it's best for everyone for parents to separate and get divorced, I'm not saying it's wrong or bad. I'm just saying that my parents celebrated 20 years of marriage in October and I'm just so happy and proud of them. They love my brother and I, and each other unconditionally and I'm so incredibly proud of them.

Rams Game today

Finally, if you can't tell from the pictures, my family has done some pretty incredible things. We have gone on so many amazing trips and I cannot thank them enough. Traveling has become a huge passion in my life and we've had so many great opportunities to experience some great places together.

So if you're reading this mom and dad, I love you so much. And to everyone else, I hope you all have someone in your life whom you love as much as I love them, and if not maybe you can be that for someone else.

Until next time,
Taylor xx