Today I read an article in the Houston Home Journal, my town paper. It was entitled ‘Boy, I am glad had rotten parents’. And when I read the title, I immediately thought to myself… Me too!! I know what you are thinking… “damn, that is harsh”...or “she must have had a really bad childhood”. If you were thinking that you would be…wrong!
I thank my parents for everything they have done and continue to do for me. But I truly thank them for exposing me to so many things and nurturing my view of the world.
My parents where just like today’s parents; they want their children to have something better than what they had, to do better than them, and to leave their mark on the world. The difference is that some parents want all that on their terms and they do what they have to do to make sure their children succeed. The problem is that in the end these children grow into adults that can do NOTHING for themselves. So in essence they are coddled children who turn into crippled adults. This is the result of having great parents who do everything for you. Clean your room, wash your clothes, make your meals, pay all your bills, and clean up all your mistakes, Something I would know nothing about, thank God, oh yeah, and my rotten parents.
My rotten parents taught me the value of a dollar and doing my best. I started working, literally getting a pay check, at age 13. I sold hotdogs at the Air Force Recreation Department. I have been working ever since. Every summer since my 13th birthday I have had some kind of job. So when I hear kids say that they deserve something because they got good grades, or did what their parents told them to, I laugh. Where is it written that you deserve a reward for doing your God-given best. Don’t get my wrong, I was given a lot of things and some even said I was spoiled. But I would call then a liar. My parents required the best out of their children (there are two of us) and we strived to make them proud. Because of that, they believed that we deserved some things. And for that I am eternally grateful…
Now we were not perfect kids either….
Did we bump heads, yes.
Was I ever grounded, yes.
Did I ever slam a door, yes.
So I would claim the title of typical kid.
Did I ever curse my parents, no.
Did I ever try to strike my parents, no.
Did I ever steal from my parents, no.
Did I ever do something that would place my family in danger, no.
If you answer yes to any of these questions, you wouldn’t have lasted long in my home.
My parents were not my friends they were my parents and because of that I grew up respecting and loving them for the role they played in my life.
The author, Ronda Rich, said is best, “because I had such rotten parents, I learned the value of hard work, the importance of a dollar, the comfort of prayer in times of need”. I will add to that by saying my rotten parents taught me that people deserve respect, that you give 100% to everything you do, the world is not fair and that God is in control of everything.
I thank my rotten parents for introducing me to books, to music, to writing, to art, to knowledge. I thank my rotten parents for teaching me my history so that I know where I come from. I thank my rotten parents for introducing me to God and allowing me to cultivate my own relationship with Him. I thank my rotten parents for always being present and allowing me to be me without prejudice. I thank my rotten parents for given and showing me what love feels like and looks like. I thank my rotten parents for being the world best rotten parents.
Well said.
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