10 Things My Parents Taught Me

I had wonderful parents and I am grateful for everything they did for me. They both worked hard to provide for our family and although we did not have a lot financially, we never lacked anything we really needed. Here are a few of the many things they taught me.

A strong work ethic

I worked for my dad during college, and I can still hear him telling me there is never an excuse for standing around. There is always something else you can do.

My dad worked harder than anyone I know and he did it all with an artificial leg, but I never heard him complain except to tell me he hoped I wasn’t embarrassed by it. I hope he knew how proud I was of him. He dropped out of school in the 9^th grade to help his mom and he is still one of the wisest people I have ever known. He understood what was important in life, and he was determined to give his family a good life.

Kindness

Both my parents believed in the importance of helping others. My mother was involved with service at the church, and my father was always helping people through his business. They treated everyone with kindness and respect.

Don’t judge

My parents told me not to judge others because you never know what type of burden they might be carrying. Treat others with understanding and try to lighten the load if you could.

Wealth isn’t always about money

We never had much money, but I never noticed it. There was always food on the table and since my parents were master gardeners we saved money by growing a lot of our own food and canning some for the winter. We also made our own bread.

Everyone needs community

My parents knew how important community is for our well-being. My mom had her church community, our extended family and neighbors, and dad had his interactions from work.

Family is important

I grew up around many cousins, aunts and uncles. Our extended family visited often, and I came to love the chaos of a group of families laughing and talking. Family takes care of each other.

Holidays and birthdays are never just another day

A birthday is a celebration of life and holidays are a chance to make memories and come together as a family. My mother loved family gatherings. She never sat down because she was moving between people making sure everyone had enough to eat and drink. She loved being around large groups of people.

Food is love

My mom loved to cook for everyone. Food was a way for her to show you that you were loved.

Use your resources

Although there might not have been much money, my parents did things to save. We had two huge gardens full of vegetables. My dad took a night job at the local market and was allowed to bring home food that was several days old. My mom sewed clothes and took a job to send me to a good school.

Know how important laughter is

There was always laughter in my house. My parents were lighthearted and they knew that laughter was great medicine. Even the difficult days are easier if you can laugh at them.