So many of us parent the way our parents did – because it’s the only example we’ve had a chance to see up close.  We think one of the ways to remedy this is to create a space where people can share stories of the things they feel their parents did right, so we can all learn from those examples.

Tynee Sims

The thing my Mom did right was introduce me to God, how to exercise my faith in God, and the power of prayer. Growing up, my Mom would pray all the time, She would pray anywhere and everywhere, i.e. in the bathtub, walking down street, at church, on the way to work, or school, you name it, my Mama was going to pray. She would also pray about everything and for everybody, including her enemies. She literally would pray without ceasing. She understood the importance of talking to God and trusting God in good times and in bad times. Her faith was unmatched. Read more>>

Pooja Bareis

My parents were very giving, and taught me at a young age to put my life in perspective to the greater picture, and to help others whenever I can. My mother frequently had difficult conversations with me about how a lot of people in the world are struggling, and modeled that it is our job to have compassion and help them as much as possible. I watched my dad volunteer growing up, and it led me to volunteer for various organizations myself when I was in High School and adulthood. It even led me to take a position overseas in as an International Volunteer Coordinator, working for a small after school nonprofit in the mountain region of Peru. Read more>>

Elaine Mollindo

As backwards as it sounds, I think what my parents got right was telling me a lie from the moment I was born. I suppose it wasn’t really a lie because it was their truth – they believed it one hundred percent. They told me that I was the most beautiful, smartest and, talented girl in the whole world. They told me this often and so I one hundred percent believed it too. There were periods of my life where I was disappointed in them for telling me this story. As a young child I quickly found out I was not the ideal specimen. At school I was not the smartest. Children and adults told me I was fat, so I couldn’t be the prettiest. I was bad at sports and physical activity so I was definitely not the most talented. Read more>>

Kerryann Tomlinson

Absolutely! My parents made me the woman I am today. Everything they did had intentionality. Although both my parents are dead, daily I see glimpses of them in me. I see them in how I live, how I make decisions, the things I do and say. There is a running joke with my sibling, when we do or say something mum or dad would, we call each other on it, saying that was a “mum-ism” or “daddy-ism.” Plus, you can’t miss how much I physically resemble them both. Read more>>

Kayla Jackson

My mother raised me as a teenage parent with the help of my grandmother. I often refer to them both as “my parents”. My parents provided me with every opportunity possible with the limited resources they had. My mother struggled financially throughout my childhood. She sacrificed often to provide for me. She never complained and always persevered. Many of those qualities she learned from my grandmother who was also a teenage parent. I wouldn’t be the woman and business owner I am today without them. My success has been a direct result of their continuous support and prayers. Read more>>

Ronald Leonard II

One thing my father made sure I knew how to do was to serve others. He was a man that was devoted to his family, his church, and his community. He had a true servants heart and I try to make sure I do every project with that mindset as well. He wasn’t a businessman but he always told me “If you aren’t going to do it right, don’t do it at all”. That still rings in my head today and stays with me as I work with clients to make sure I accomplish their vision or goal. Read more>>

Todd Fahnestock

My parents were both hugely influential in my chosen life path. I’ll start with my Dad. He’s the hardest working man I’ve ever met. He’s the guy that, when met with adversity, would growl and curse and fight, but he always found a way to get on top. He showed me that strength and a bulldog tenacity can achieve just about any outcome. Just don’t give up. He was also an amazing artist who made his living from his talent. I think that’s what inspired me to do the same later on. We moved to Durango from Los Angeles when I was a kid, and he and my mother bought a restaurant called Rosewater’s Deli. Read more>>

Zoe Terry

I feel like I am very lucky and blessed. I am being raised by two strong Black women and a village of strong women. I am being raised by my mother and my Godmother. They are both so different and both of them equally offer something special to my life that has really given me the fortitude to be successful and zealous at just 15 years old. Everyone who knows my story know that I started Zoe’s Dolls because I was bullied at my school when I was 5 years old. I was bullied because of the color of my skin and the texture of my hair. Basically, I was bullied for basically being the beautiful, black little girl I am. Everyone knows how I turned that negative into a positive by starting Zoe’s Dolls. Read more>>

Julie Black

My mother and father have always been my biggest fans. They own their own business and have been very successful. They have taught me to always keep my head up, even through the most trying times. Both my parents sacrificed so much, but have built something so special. That is what I am striving for. Read more>>

Brittany Addison-Prescott

Raising an Empress ain’t easy! I guess that is why God chose a Mississippi beauty queen and a New Jersey Marine to raise me. I am already brought to tears of gratitude and joy just thinking about all the beautiful foundational lessons my parents have taught me. Spirituality is my number one core value in my business and in my personal life. My faith has gotten me out of spaces and challenges the human mind can not conceive. One of my firmest foundations my parents taught me is to have unwavering faith in God. I am very blessed my parents encouraged me to cultivate and strengthen a relationship with a benevolent Higher Power, that I choose to call GOD. Read more>>

Gayne Dorio

I have always had a very close relationship with my parents and they truly are my Best friends. They have always taught me that anything is possible with hard work and determination. They always taught me that no job or role is too big or too small for anyone and every role is just as important as the next. Read more>>

Captain Dwayne Green

What did my parents do right? What a great question. Hopefully, I can give my parents the credit they both deserve. I believe the best thing they ever did for me was teach me that nothing comes before God and your family. Knowing that and living with that in mind will give you the foundation for success. No matter what has been going on in my life, good or bad, my parents and my family have been there to support me 100 percent. I have learned that being successful is great, but being able to fail and get back up, dust yourself off and stay with it is where true character comes from. Read more>>

Eric Peterson

Growing up, and even now, I have the challenge and the opportunity to grow from having learning disabilities. For those who are not familiar with learning disabilities, they are defined on the website https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED021352 as follows; “Learning disabilities are differences in a person’s brain that can affect how well they read, write, speak, do math, and handle other similar tasks.” In short, learning something, especially something new, takes extra effort to learn or comprehend. Growing up I recall at times becoming very frustrated with not being able to comprehend things that others around me were able to grasp easily. Read more>>

Rachel LaMar

The first thing my parents did right was to adopt me! They gave me a beautiful life and I have always known I am blessed because of them. There are so many other things, but 2 come to mind that have helped in my education and career. My mom taught me how important it is to treat others – with kindness, respect, transparency, and how to be a good listener. That lesson has remained with me my whole life, and in business it is most important. I would not have been successful today without this advice. My mom was a highly respected and very successful real estate agent – and it was obvious that she truly cared about her clients and those with whom she worked. I strive to replicate the way she made everyone feel valued. Read more>>

Don Quade

My parents have always been supportive of my choice to pursue art. When I was very young my mom had read somewhere that to encourage children’s creativity instead of giving them coloring books where drawing within the lines is the goal, it’s better to provide blank sheets of paper and encourage kids to use their imagination and draw without guidelines. I think there is a lot of truth to that concept. One of my earliest memories is sitting in the backseat of the car on a 3 day cross-country road trip from the tip of Texas to the upper peninsula of Michigan. We were on our way to visit my grandparents and I had nothing to entertain myself but a ream of blank paper and brand new box of crayons. Read more>>

Laura Hopp

My dad has always been a firm believer in the power of magic as a way to shape your own reality. I remember taking bike rides when I was little and stopping to “melt the clouds,” a process he invented that involved gazing at a cloud until, through your own willpower, it dissipated. After a while, my chosen cloud would go on its way, steadily changing form until it vanished. I now know that clouds evaporate with temperature and humidity changes, but as a child, the only explanation was that my focus caused their transformation. My dad taught me other spells too, like how to collect energy from the forest floor through my feet, as if my toes were very tiny, grateful vacuum cleaners. Read more>>

Ella Magers

I discovered my life’s purpose when I was just 7 years old, and if it weren’t for my parents being extraordinarily honest with me, and valuing the human being that I was, there’s no telling how different my path would have looked! The story goes like this… My mom picked me up after school to take me to gymnastics practice (I’ve been into sports and fitness since I was five), and asked how my day was. I told her we learned about Daniel Boone (one of our first American folk heroes who infamously carried around a shotgun and wore a raccoon hat). Read more>>

Johnedra Walls

My parents taught me to never wait on anyone or anything. Everything begins and ends with you! The hardest part of starting is starting. Once you actually start don’t stop. Even when going through, don’t stop, keep going! Read more>>

Margit Whitlock

Oh my parents!! I love them so much yet unfortunately they are no longer here. My dad, a stanch Democrat, Union organizer and a Mans Mans and my mom was the go getter, fashionista, republican and woman’s rights activist. What a combo! What my parents did right is always focus on education, having a voice as a woman, being well rounded, have respect and integrity And then there was creativity – My dad was a bomb specialist in the army so of course I had a chemistry set so we could blow up stuff! and my mom taught me how to refinish furniture and dance and paint. Both of them loved to fix up old homes and make them beautiful. So architecture and design was inherent. Read more>>

Bianca Rochell

Yes, they’ve had a huge impact on my journey. My parents did a lot right. A few of the most important things they did right are: loving me endlessly and pouring into my spirit the mindset that I can do anything I put my mind to. Read more>>

Kiro Ace

Three things my parents taught me that have served me in life. First would have to be they loved me, next was they never lied to me and lastly be self reliant. Since I was loved and accepted by my parent, I learned those two traits and use them every day. I work on staying in a loving state of being all the time. Especially when experiencing difficult situations. I’ve been cheated on by lovers, ripped off by partners and not paid by clients. I have found that by staying in a loving frame of mind helps me resolve situation quickly because I’m working on learning and understanding why things happen, instead of wasting time blaming, taking things personally, seeking revenge and other non-product thoughts and actions. My life is full of love because I’m full of love! Read more>>

Grisell Denise Rodriguez

My parents are everything to me. Since I was really young they established a seed in me of service, how will the world be different and better when you’re gone? They also taught me the importance of having a nothing is impossible mentality. They help and encourage individuals in their community on the daily, something I definitely learned from them. What mark will you have made? What influence will you have caused? These principles are what really started Women RUN Wynwood (non-profit), it’s impacted my career, and my life. We have had the opportunity to impact over 7K women since we first launched in December 2017. Read more>>

Pablo Cano

I was blessed with a very creative family. My Father was a musician and Mother is still creating art at 9o. Early on my parents and my big sister observed I loved drawing and gave me lots of encouragement. As I grew older my mom enrolled me in a local visual art academy owned by two artists Barbara Neijna and Roberto Martinez. Every Saturday I went to learn about sculpture and drawing, the time I was 12 years old. My father was friends with a very talented sculptor in Miami Tony Lopez. My dad introduced us and Tony agreed. Read more>>

Elsa Ruggiero

I grew up with a mom who is an entrepreneur that leads with her heart. While she and I are very different people in many ways, she taught me the value of viewing each client as an individual. As a realtor, she connected with her clients on a deeply personal level; she knew their families, their lives, their challenges, their finances. I realized she had a deeper, more personal investment in the people she worked with. She learned how to help in pretty much any situation her clients were in, because she took the time to educate herself on loans, credit, the market, and the neighborhoods she served in a way that went above what was expected of her. Read more>>

Cazoshay Marie

One thing my parents really did right in the way that they raised my younger brother and I was that they always kept the positive aspects of our history and heritage at the forefront of our minds. One way they did this that has had a significant impact on my journey to becoming a wellness professional, garden coach and future farmer was by having us spend a great deal of time with our grandparents. I’m originally from Alaska, but my mother’s family is from North Carolina and my father’s hails from Alabama. I basically grew up outside with my mom and Granny learning how to grow our own food, while also learning about the impact and contributions that my ancestors had both in their communities and in helping to make America the great country that it is today. Read more>>

Andrew Hannon

Growing up in a small town in KS, I was the quiet kid in school who was good at sports. My parents never pushed me to the point of going outside of who I truly was, but they taught me to work hard, treat others how you want to be treated, push for your dreams and lead with your actions. Working in the fitness industry I feel that last saying has always stuck with me, especially in a very vocal dominant field. My parents are still together and their commitment to each other has really taught me how to communicate, be a strong provider, love and value my wife. Now that I am a father (we have a 1 year old) my parents also taught me about sacrifice and what’s really important in life. Read more>>

Mari Leiva

My parents taught me work ethic, character, humility and courage. These things have impacted me tremendously in my professional and creative life and career. Every person I’ve worked with knows that they can 100% count on me. I’ve always proven to be a determined individual that gets the job done. I know that these things were mimicked and developed from watching my parents strive to provide for my brother and I. For them, coming to this country and being able to work here, grow a family, buy a house, was a dream that they made reality. Both my parents have taught me the value of going after what I want, working hard for it and having the satisfaction of knowing that is the one thing in life you can control and nobody can take away from you. Read more>>

Karissa Hubbard

Like every kid, there were days my parents were the worst people in the world to me. Then you grow up and realize there’s no one else you’d rather call mom and dad. The things my parents did right, was treat people right. Not saying they are perfect, but they are the kind of people that give and take care of everyone around them and that’s something I have taken on in my career. I honestly give out so many books for free just because. I’m already doing what I love and that’s reward in itself. I’m a firm believer that if you do good, good will come to you. So, I strive to do right be others and trust that good will come my way in God’s timing. Read more>>

Lindsey Holmes

I have been so blessed, in my life, to have a mom who always pushed us to be our best. We were encouraged to give our very best in everything we did, we never missed a week at church, and she ensured we understood the value of treating everyone with kindness and respect (regardless of their status, position, social class etc). My mom was also a business owner herself. As a single mom, she worked so hard to provide for my sister, brother, and me. I always saw how driven she was and how she never gave up. Her perseverance was so inspiring. Were there difficult times? Absolutely! I remember her going grocery shopping, at Kroger, at midnight. Read more>>

Catherine Contreras-Sanchez

My parents always had fierce entrepreneurial spirits. Constantly taking good ideas and trying to figure out how to turn them into magic. I had the pleasure of witnessing a lot of failure, that was followed by grace and more determination, as I grew up. That drive to turn failure into fortune, was a running them in my life, ever since I can remember. One of my earliest memories is when my dad decided that he make my mom an ice cream cake for her birthday. He wanted it to be just like the ones we had tried at Baskin Robbins. He attempted to make that cake SEVERAL times. Read more>>

Kayla Oudthone

My father was a great man. He came from Thailand as a young boy with our family, speaking zero English. He grew up in Martial Arts and this inspired him to have his own Martial Arts studio in his later years. Throughout this, my father taught us about living a passionate life. He showed me that it would not always be easy, that there will be many obstacles to overcome and there will be many people who will doubt you. It was always important to believe in yourself and to treat others with respect along the way because you never know the impact you may have on their lives. Read more>>

Jabrina Speaks

As a small child, you don’t understand the importance of having a mother and father. Your expectation is for your childhood to be fun with no rules, but then one day you see the necessities of having parents. Don’t get me wrong I had a well-balanced childhood but my parents believed that training up a child the correct way was important for their adult life. My mother and father were not just parents but they were investors. They taught me love, understanding, teamwork, investments, self-love, discipline, communication, and what true parenthood was. They both showed my siblings and me what it took to be trailblazers in our time. It was their duty to see our visions even as children manifest. Read more>>

Erica korman

My mother died when I was 17 but I remember one of our last conversations being about how she would support me in whoever I was and what I wanted to be in life. She was supportive of me just being me. After she passed, I went on to get masters degree and become a psychotherapist and my father thought that was great and was really proud of me. Years later when I discovered my gifts as a psychic/medium and energy healer (this felt like magic and I knew it was my real passion and purpose in life). I was so nervous to tell him or anyone for that matter. Read more>>

Tamara Allen

My mother taught me the importance of being honest. Don’t matter who don’t want to hear it it absolutely is a super power of I consistently serve honesty. There is freedom in honesty and abs it actually feel good when it’s actually natural for you. This has been my motto and I feel so fulfill in my both my business and personal life. Read more>>

Lisa Telepman

The best thing my parents did for me was to take me traveling around the world as a child. Being exposed to different cultures at a young age gave me a very open mind and taught me compassion. They also brought me up partly on the east coast in a busy city which also gave me exposure to an interesting world. I feel these experiences have really helped me be able to engage with all kinds of people from different backgrounds and cultures. My mom was also an artist and had a lot of colorful friends. Being a hairdresser has allowed me to be an artist and also really connect with people while also running a business. I am doing something I love and making money. I love meeting different people and hearing their stories while also creating amazing art and transforming them. Read more>>

Adjwoa Adgy” Tyehimba”

So, growing up my parents owned a bookstore called Pan-African Connection in Oak Cliff. I always witnessed my parents coming up with creative ways to attract customers into the store & treating every customer like a human being no matter what. While on the other hand at home my parents encouraged us to play sports, musical instruments, to travel, and to always have a vision. In high school I used to make horrible decisions, until one day my father told me to stop reacting negatively to every negative event. He taught me to look for the positive in every negative, because no matter how bad something is, there has to be a positive somewhere. Read more>>

Doris Lew

My parents are Chinese immigrants from China. They were very traditional old school in their ways of thinking. There were strict for the most part, but not as strict for some things. To my parents, schooling was important. They didn’t seems to care as much as what we were doing growing up as long as we had good grades. I had so much freedom. I didn’t have a curfew. I could go where ever I wanted to go and as late as I wanted or even leave town last minute. Very strange if you have any idea what traditionally Asian parents are like. Read more>>

Jose Valines

There are may things that my parents did to impact my life and career. There are many stories and I will share one or pieces of some, My parents are awesome. My parents taught me to be in the hospitality industry with out even knowing how real and twilight zone the industry is. We used go to soup kitchens growing up and offering genuine hospitality really had an impact on how I cook and want to make sure everything is great and up to or beyond the expectations. Read more>>

Audrey McCroskey

Something that my parents did right that has impacted both my life and career was teaching me that nothing will ever be handed to me. If I want something, I have to be willing to put forth the work and effort in order to make it happen for myself. My dad has owned his own excavation company my entire life and I’ve seen the type of dedication and discipline a business requires in order to operate — owning your own business is not a 9-5, 5 days a week job. It’s a 24/7 operation, no matter what industry you’re working in. I’ve been fortunate enough to have parents that have always supported my photography career and have wanted me to be successful in it and have always helped in any way they can. Read more>>

Danielle Ryan Broida

My parents gave me roots and wings. They always encouraged me to be my own person, explore new terrain- literally around the world and also intellectually, while silently holding the roots of my foundation, knowing that wherever I flew off to, there would always be solid ground to come back to. I am particularly grateful to my mother, Julie, for her unconditional love and support through each unconventional chapter of my life. While other young adults were jumping into a career and landing in a particular place, I was off exploring dozens of new countries and both intellectual and spiritual opportunities. Read more>>

Lisa Botto Lee

Here’s a shout out to you Mom and Dad. You did an awesome job as parents and bringing me into the world of art. I was born in northern New Jersey and hale from this wonderful family of artists. I am proud to carry on this family tradition as the fifth generation of artists that date back to mural painters in northern Italy. I have been living in south Florida for over twenty-two years and my studio overlooks the everglades. My parents met at the Art Students League in NYC. My Dad spotted my Mom in the gallery and it was love at first sight. They have been incredible role models and I can’t thank them enough for their love and teaching me everything they know about the artworld. Read more>>

Lydia Sweetland

My parents were both very had workers. My father served in the US Air Force and was always doing artsy side-jobs and remodeling work. He was a talented fine arts artist who taught at TCU after retiring. My mother is German and can do literally anything. I’ve never met a harder working woman than her. We moved a lot, including back and forth to Europe. My parents started buying the ugliest house on the best street they could afford and fixed them up, not knowing how long we’d stay in one place (we actually moved twice while I was in third grade!). My dad did the remodeling and my mom did all the design and finish work, and they put me to work early – I started hanging wallpaper when I was 9! So I guess I learned my trade by osmosis. Read more>>

Dave Quast

My parents taught me the importance of, and joy of, education for its own sake. They were both teachers. My mother taught four foreign languages at the high school level and my father, a first-generation American, was a professor of both philosophy and political science. Any resources my parents had went into travel, books, and lessons of one kind or another (mostly music). With my love of lifelong learning, I jumped at the opportunity to teach at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, where I have been for the past eight years. Read more>>