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.

Jordan Minder

My parents gave me and my siblings total freedom to explore different hobbies, passions, and potential career paths. My mother quit nursing to pursue art full time and my father is a veterinarian. Both of them love what they do and have always encouraged me to do the same. I remember my dad telling me something like, “I don’t care if you want to be a musician, doctor, or whatever… Read more>>

Ryan Doyle

I really lucked out in the parent department. From a very young age, even before I can remember, my mom and dad loved and supported me and my creativity unconditionally. I was that kid that forced my parents to get tickets to my living room concerts on a weekly basis, and proceed to perform a 3 act one man show that usually involved 5-7 costume changes and a variety of Celine Dion songs. Read more>>

Ariane Callender

So many things, but I’ll try to narrow it down to a few. My parents exemplify two traits I think are very important in building a life or career: creating and executing a vision. My dad is a proponent of visualizing the things you want – if you want to score the goal, visualize the ball going into the net kind of thing, to put it simply. In doing this, you see yourself achieving the thing which gets you in the mindset of believing you can achieve the thing. Read more>>

Marquel Patton

As an only child, I have always had very close relationship with my parents. They have always been my biggest cheerleaders! They raised me with a deep appreciation for tenacity and grit. My dad created an incredibly successful career in business purely by hustle and dedication, and my mom moved to California from the midwest with $200 to her name and was able to support herself as a hairdresser for 25 years. Read more>>

Maeve Norton

It isn’t completely by chance that I ended up working as a full time creative. Growing up in a home that fosters creativity is rare. But, growing up in a home that not only fosters but downright demands it is something else all together. It would be easy, safe even, for a parent to gently nudge their child on a more beneficial career path. Why not law, or accounting? Everyone needs a lawyer and accountant, after all. Read more>>

Natalie Pinault

There is something so safe in knowing you have the true love and support of your parents. It goes all the way back to me playing sports growing up. I really wanted to try them all. I loved hockey, softball, dance, and soccer and I was very busy and dedicated to all of them! My parents never missed a game or performance. I remember messing up a big play in hockey that resulted in a goal and I looked up in the stands and saw the support in their faces to keep trying, don’t get discouraged. Read more>>

Elliott Jeter

First, I have to say a huge “thank you” to my parents, Lewis Jeter Sr. and Carolyn Jeter. Without them, my dream of becoming a musician and starting a music business would not be possible. My parents have been the biggest supporters in both my life and career. They have always encouraged me to pursue my dreams and reminded me to keep God first in whatever I do and stay humble. Read more>>

Ashley J. Hassard

What did your parents do right They say it takes a village to raise a child, and that was certainly the case with me. Growing up I was so fortunate to have had such loving and supportive parents, family, and friends who really rallied around me to ensure I had this engaging and enriched childhood. Read more>>

Robert Lange

I owe a lot of my artistic career and the environment we have created in our gallery to philosophies and actions of my parents growing up. Read more>>

Jan Buckingham

My parents were good Christian people who taught me the golden rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. So, in my business as a singer/songwriter/publisher, I always treat people as I would like to be treated: with respect and kindness. I always return all phone calls. I try to help young writers learn to write better songs. I encourage them. I am always honest. I keep my word. I learned all this by watching how my parents acted and treated people. Read more>>

Gloria Newsome-Brickhouse

The Best Boss I ever has was my retired Pastor Emeritus Dr. Robert G. Murray. He taught me how to succeed in ministry. He gave me opportunities to represent the Church in is absence and encouraged me to be my self at all times. He helped me to stand firm in my beliefs and to always be kind and loving to those who were not kind and loving to me. Read more>>

Jason Gaines

One of the things that my parents did that has had an enormous impact on my life, was to introduce me to the arts at a very young age. I remember having my own superhero themed record player as a very young child, which I used to play music from my mother’s enormous record collection. It was literally like having my own music library to use, whenever I wanted. As I got older, I watched lots of music television (MTV), would attend concerts, and would rarely leave the house without some type of music with me to listen to, when riding my bike, motorcycle, in my car, etc. Read more>>

ISANA SEBASTIAN

couldn’t. They became something bigger than what everyone thought they were. What my parents did right, was prove everyone wrong. Read more>>

Kelsie Penn

My parents are nothing short of beautiful and amazing. They have high morals. When it comes to perception, attitude, loyalty, honesty, knowing right from wrong and being true to one’s self and values. Those ethics have shaped me into the woman that I am today. All teenagers typically want to rebel but the older and wiser I get, the more I realize that I want to continue to be just like them in multiple ways. Read more>>

Marcos Salinas

I would consider my parents to be My Mom & My grandpa. I come from an immigrant family, so there were a lot of things that were done right in the aspect of working hard, being resilient, and working smarter when possible, with the circumstances. Growing up, my mom allowed me to be independent (Cautiously) by learning the consequences of my actions when I was stubborn to explore things, and provided continued support and belief in whatever I decided to focus on. Read more>>

Kai McPhee

My parents gave me space to express myself creatively and do things that interested me. Growing up, I was always in an extracurricular activity, like art club, taekwondo, track & field, etc. and anytime I wanted to go to another activity or leave one they supported me. In highschool, I was in a lot of clubs, like I was one of the most seen faces in the yearbook. Read more>>

Peachie Petite

One thing I believe my mom did right was letting me be me, as opposed to pushing me into sports or other extracurricular activities she let me be creative and always supported any art I wanted to work on wether that was my cosplay or drawing she was always very supportive of me and I will always be thankful to her for that. Read more>>

Erica Jones, MD

By ordering blank books for me to author, enrolling me in typing classes, driving me to speaking competitions and engagements while I was under ten years old, my mother, Margaret Jones, empowered me to find my voice and express myself with confidence. Raised by a village in Dothan, Alabama, my family has supported my creative journey throughout my life. I’m thankful for the foundation that they helped me build, and I make a valiant effort to continue to make my ancestors proud. Read more>>

Takiya Green

Although I came from a somewhat broken home, with both her biological parents struggling with Substance Use Disorder and Psychological issues, I vowed to create a life for herself that differed from the poverty I was birthed into. I credit my foster/adoptive mother, the late Claudes O. Williams for providing me with a loving and stable home environment, that truly nurtured my talents and natural abilities. Read more>>