I had strict parents growing up; while in the moment I hated it, their high standards for behavior was something my siblings and I took for granted.
However, I love spending time with my parents. I used to have a blast learning how to draw and paint with my dad all weekend, but I would return to the seventh grade recess gossip about how “embarrassing” it would be to get picked up from school dances by him.
Then high school came along…I would come home in a mess of tears over who knows what and my mom would take me for a drive to our favorite home decor store and have me smiling in minutes. Yet when the discussion of lame parents came up in our high school cafeteria I always had to contribute something about my parents being totally unfair, I was not about to be the one kid who admitted I loved hanging out with my parents.
As I get older and hopefully wiser, I still consider my parents to be two of the most important people in my life as well as my best friends…and I am ready to admit it, they are not lame; they’re actually pretty cool.
With my second year of college coming to a close I have met so many interesting people who were brought up much differently than I. Coming from broken homes, foster homes, or just simply having a nonexistent relationship with their parents, I am able to realize just how lucky I am to be able to call my parents two of the people I am closest with today.
So here I am at 19, ready to admit that yes, my parents are cool. In fact they are actually much cooler than me.
So here are 5 reasons why you should join me in the acceptance of the title “cool” for our parents:
1. They offer to pay for the first date (and the second, and the third…) My mom is always happy to take me out for a lunch date to break up my school week and she never makes me pay, and as a broke student I am eternally grateful.
2. They are proud of your minor accomplishments. I called my dad to tell him about how I participated in a class the other day, and he was genuinely proud of me (I know what you’re thinking, not a big deal to speak in class) but to me it was, and my dad was right there to cheer me on through the phone.
3. They have your best interest at heart more than anyone. You are their baby girl, or baby boy. They want to see you do well. They will tell you if you’re first date outfit is too over the top without the competitive bias of a friend.
4. They can be the best drinking buddies. My dad and I are in the process of perfecting the perfect summer cottage drink; we like to call it a turbo, if we can manage to perfect the right amount of half palm bay and half Coors Light our live as we know it will be forever changed.
5. They know what to expect from you. My mom knew how devastated I would be if I didn’t get the job I thought I wanted more than anything this summer. She expected me to pout and watch Netflix for two days, but she also expected me to pick myself up and continue the job hunt the next week.
If this list doesn’t persuade you enough try chatting with your parents. Just go sit down with them and ask their opinion on what is going on in your life right now; their advice will pleasantly surprise you.
Just trust me on this one.
Featured Image via screengrab of The OC.
I couldn’t have said this better! I really love this article because it’s my life. My parents were (and still are) this strictest people I know. I felt like I was never allowed to do the things my friends did growing up. We always ate dinner together, every night. I couldn’t get tattoos or piercings. (took a lot of convincing to get my ears pierced.) & God forbid I ever talk back. (I’m almost 20 and I still can’t talk back to my parents.) Growing up like this and then going to college really made me realize how lucky I am, like you mentioned. My parents truly are my best friends and I’m proud to say that.
I so aspire to be like Lilly and Serena from Gossip Girl. <3 Moms are the BEST.