Today we’d like to take a moment to applaud the parents who despite many challenges, did they best they could and did right by their kids. We asked folks to share stories of what they feel their parents got right and have shared highlights below.

David Fairbanks

My mother is an extremely hard worker. When I was young, I remember her getting up day after day and doing what needed to be done to provide for us. She would work long hours and multiple jobs to make sure that we lived a comfortable life and I had everything I needed. As I got older I realized that I was no stranger to hard work. As I took the leap to start my own business, this work ethic was put to the test and I could always think back to those days that my mom keep getting up to make sure that she provided. Those thoughts gave me the strength I needed at times to continue and I’m grateful for the example that my mother set for me. Thanks mom! Read more>>

Brittany Beattie

“Speak to your children as if they are the wisest, kindest, most beautiful and magical humans on earth, for what they believe is what they will become”. -Brooke Hampton Growing up my parents were my heroes. As I grew older, I began to see them as the humans who were doing the best they could in circumstances where they were also learning, making mistakes, and growing as individuals. Read more>>

Liina Lundin

My father worked for the railroad and my mother is an artist. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up, so we took road trips. As dad drove, mom would visually analyze things we would see: Signs, advertising, the sky… everything. I became curious at a young age what makes something visually interesting. What draws attention? I also grew up with built-in art lessons from my mother, who encouraged me all along the way. So it was a natural fit for me to find my career in graphic design. Read more>>

Joshua Lowe

As an adult I look back on my childhood and I think about the things my parents taught me and how it shaped me as an adult and a business owner. Things that stick out to me is 1: Always Do My Best: I was never made to be perfect. My parents just wanted me to do my best. That was in everything from my School work, to playing Soccer, or doing martial arts Read more>>

Kezia Jackson

My parents have always been the most supportive people in my life. They have been there for me from day one, helping me with anything I’ve needed from simple tasks to life-changing decisions. They encouraged me to be self-sufficient, yet they also encouraged me to ask questions when I needed help. I think this provided me with the confidence to take risks, knowing that I would have support along the way to lend a helping hand when I needed it. Read more>>

Shavonne James

There’s a lot I can say about how my parents have impacted my life and career but I really feel that what stands out the most is the kind of independent, “you are capable,” environment they fostered. I think that really set the tone for how I feel about myself and, in turn, it’s the lens in which I see the world. My dad was always coming up with new systems and charts that focused on creating balance in our lives. Read more>>

michelle vejar

I love this question. My mom Shirley Herold was my biggest inspiration and cheerleader. As a child of the 70’s my mom had an incredible wardrobe. Colors, patterns, wide collars, skinny scarfs and bell bottoms. You will see a strong 70’s influence when you shop Rock-n-Boho Clothing. My Mom taught me so many life lessons. She allowed me to make lots of mistakes and always gave me the time and space to learn from my failures. Read more>>

Kimberlee D. Murray

My parents greatly impacted my career by teaching me the importance of not giving up and being an independent thinker. I always remember them telling me to not follow “the crowd” and to go after the things I’m passionate about. While I was away at college, I ended up making one of the biggest decisions in my life and I would not have had the courage to do so had they not instilled this mindset. During my sophomore year of college, Read more>>

Sarah Hanners

My mom has been the biggest influence to start my own business. When my siblings and I were growing up, she always had some kind of business she was working on. I remember seeing her making phone calls to clients, fulfilling orders, and hustling to find more clients. She had amazing boundaries too, when it was time to work; she worked. Read more>>

carson kapp

My parents provided a home where we were free to explore our natural environment. They instilled life skills such as persistence, humbleness, and kindness. Growing up on a tree filled hillside in Birmingham, AL with my grandmother next door and my cousins down the hill provided a strong foundation for growing up. There were 6 cousins and 5 of us playing kick the can and running around with the neighborhood children. Read more>>

Camille McLucas

My parents instilled in me to literally never quit. Keep going! Never give up on your dream. Have faith and continue to press on even when things get tough. Those words are needed whenever you’re pursuing your purpose in life because no one ever said things will be easy or handed to you. When I was in Los Angeles it was super hard being so far away from family and friends. Experiencing rejection at every turn with auditions was tough and made me want to quit however, my parents words of never quitting and keep going stayed in my head. Read more>>

MELANIE ROYSTER

I was very fortunate to have parents who showed me other parts of the world from a young age and made sure that I was involved in so many activities as possible. The first time I traveled out the country I was at 3 months old, to get baptized in Jamaica where my mother is from. From there I would spend ever other summer throughout my childhood and young years in Kingston, Jamaica -where I would stay with family and travel around the island. Read more>>

Jasen Ross

No matter what I’ve wanted to do in life my mother has always been there to support me show me love(at times tough love) as well as build my confidence telling me if I work hard enough there’s no such thing as something I can’t accomplish just stay dedicated work hard and you’ll win at the end of the day you control your destiny we all will face adversity in life but are you going to let it bring you down and stop you or are you going to fight through it and achieve your goals? If it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t be where I am today Read more>>

Regina Starks

My parents did so many things right. What I didn’t understand as a kid was their strictness but as an adult, I appreciate it all. I have been blessed to see 41 years of their 45-year marriage until the passing of my dad in October 2019 and they have always been my greatest example of unconditional love. They taught me the importance of family, hard work, Christian beliefs and values, all things that I hold true and continue to incorporate into my personal and business life. Read more>>

Darragh Goeckel

To start, my parents have always been open about finances and money. I feel as if that is often frowned upon, especially when communicating finances with kids. However, I think that is one of the best things my parents could have done for me as I was able to understand how finances work, when it is good to save versus invest, how to budget along with what a good work ethic looks like. Read more>>

Sara Jackson

If this question had been asked a decade ago, I would have suggested they did nothing right. At that time, I felt so much pressure, inadequacy, and shame surrounding who, what, and how my parents raised me. It wasn’t until I entered my thirties that it all clicked. What my parents did for me was nothing of benefit, in fact, they did the complete opposite. Read more>>

Sarah Alysse Bobo

When I was little I could’ve been an awkward child. In fact, I always got you’re an only child that must be hard but it actually was fabulous. My parents encouraged me to try as many activities as possible and so I did. Every week was packed with a music lesson, drama class, sporting activity and a playdate. Read more>>

Shereka Nicole

My mother Shirley (RIP 8/29/21) was a giver, she showed love, appreciation, and kindness to everyone she met. She taught me the true meaning of giving back to the community by leading as an example. I would attend meetings with her as a child, I saw first hand the amount of time and finances that she poured out into the community. Read more>>

Torie Marin

Both of my parents were self employed during my childhood. They set a great example of how you can achieve anything if you work hard for it and don’t make excuses. They always supported me and believed in me. I’m so thankful for that. Read more>>

Alex Araiza

It wasn’t uncommon for my parents to have two or three jobs during my childhood. Time has thankfully brought us out of such desperate days, but to tell you the truth, it took me a long time to actually fully understand how dire some years had been. Money is an old and constant issue that continues to bite at our heels, but those earlier days were hell for my mom and dad. Despite the lack of wealth, though, I was fortunate to have parents that were still able to gift and reward their kids with love of art, science, and reading. Read more>>

Adoria Maxberry

Having parents that encouraged my journey as a creative and created experiences for me to try a myriad of things ultimately shaped me into the woman I am today. My mother was an educator for over three decades and placed an emphasis on using the gifts that God gave you. She wanted to make sure that her children knew the importance of doing what makes you feel fulfilled so that it doesn’t feel like you’re going to work. Read more>>

Benjamin Luckhaupt

My brothers and I , who make up 3/4th of the bluegrass band My Brother’s Keeper, were raised in a household where creative expression through music and lyrics was encouraged. All of us were required to take 5 years of piano and encouraged to explore other instruments. I also remember being around a lot of live bluegrass and other concerts as kids, and even taking poetry classes. I thank our parents Eric and Anita for pushing and encouraging us to pursue musical endeavors. Read more>>

Breonna Jones

Parents are our first teachers to life. Parents do not have the answers to everything but they have the ability to learn and find out what they do not know. My parents did not always understand what to do and how to execute it. However, they always knew how to ask and find out to help me reach my goals. My mom has never left the country but when I graduated from high school she paid for me to go to Ghana West Africa and Italy because she wanted me to be independent and see the world. Read more>>

Ariana Perez-Acuna

Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to make art for a living, and my parents knew that as well. I remember the plethora of sketchbooks they would purchase for me to fill out from the moment I could pick up a pencil and start scribbling. I even recall them bringing pencils or pens with them whenever we ended up in a restaurant with those paper sheets over the tables just so I could draw on them. Read more>>

Lauren Stovall

My parents allowed me to flourish into who I wanted to be and guided me along the way to achieve the vision I had for my life. They taught me to do this through encouragement, selfless guidance, and taking their hands off the wheel. Instead of forcing their own worldview onto me about the career they thought I should pursue, they helped me to tease out the vision I had for my life based off of my skills and talents. Read more>>

Jzon Azari

My parents (oh my parents). They let me be a kid at heart. They didn’t force me to be anything or do anything that I didn’t choose of my own well being. I didn’t know what type of luxury that was at the time however as I grow older and wiser… it truly is something that I appreciate more than the world will ever know. Read more>>

Justin Caballero

I believe parents did a great job raising me and instilling certain timeless values in me. Both of my parents helped me build my self-confidence from a young age. My mother especially taught me the importance to dream big and follow your dreams. She always told me that I could accomplish anything I wanted. She helped me expand my thinking of what was possible and tested me to use my imagination. Read more>>

Catalina Rios-Hernandez

My parents allowed me to witness change; the hard decisions one must take, the grief it brings and the joy it can birth. In their mid twenties they both made the hard decision to immigrate from Mexico to the United States. Leaving their family, language and land. They taught me that change happens regardless of your plans and that its up to me to take the risk to embrace it. Read more>>

Philesha Alise Stern

My parents made sure at a very young age, my sisters and I always understood the value and importance of entrepreneurship. Growing up, they shopped local, supported POC business and taught us to give back to our communities. Read more>>

Lydia Schumake

My parents did right by exposing me to people and experience that would equip me to being a great human to all who I come in contact with. This is for my professional and personal life. Ever since I was a little girl, my parents would take me to workshops, summer camps, and meetings to sit at tables with community leaders, teachers, business owners, etc. This allowed me to gain knowledge and experience to networking, social skills, and leadership. Read more>>