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.

Sherry LeFils

My parents have never had an enormous amount of money. My mom stayed home with us and my dad owned his own mechanic business. They poured out love and we never lacked. They showed me who Jesus is, and by that, I learned how to treat people. They showed me compassion, work ethic, and that people are more important than money. My dad would pick up elderly ladies cars, fix the car, and then only charge them half price whenever he took the car back….because people were more important. Read more>>

Gerald Smith

I grew up in South Louisiana, and my father was the Pastor of several small conservative Protestant churches up until the time I graduated high school. I always viewed my parents as entrepreneurs, but they were only that out of necessity. My Dad had a side-hustle as a piano technician which provided more means for our family than pastoring a church ever could. Read more>>

Angelica Galarza

I am very thankful my parents did this one thing with me while I was growing up. That one thing was that they gave me freedom to make my own decisions on whether or not I enjoyed doing some thing. My parents never forced me into doing extra activities outside of school if I was not truly happy while doing them. I will never forget this moment in one of my piano lessons that my teacher came over to me to watch me perform one of our exercises that we were doing, and unfortunately while performing for my teacher I ended up pressing a wrong key. Read more>>

Fabiana Elisa Martínez

My parents taught me even before I was able to articulate words that every action implies a consequence and that our behavior can modify the world dramatically. In their innate wisdom, of which they possibly were not aware, they were strict but let me be free. They let me learn from my mistakes, they showed me the importance of being patient and consistent, and the immense value of delaying an immediate pleasure and waiting for a greater reward. They were not controlling at all about what books I read. Read more>>

Javan Plummer

Ever since I was young my mom has been my Mother and Father. One thing that my mom has done right that I am beyond grateful for is showing me how to finish what I start no matter whether I fail or not. She taught me that in every failed result there is a lesson to be learned. So I’m my life rather than quitting when I know I have failed I keep pushing because I know that the amount of work that I put in I will get out of it. Read more>>

Kristine Howard

My parents always taught us the value of working hard, being self-reliant and instilled in us the idea that we could learn to make anything we wanted. We grew up on a tight budget with a family with 7 kids. Usually if there was something we wanted – the question was posed – how can we make it ourselves to save money? We took the time to figure things out! Mom stayed home and had her own side hustle of decorating wedding cakes. Read more>>

dennis greenhill

My parents divorced when I was 9. I ended up with my mom. Being a single mom, she did her best to give me the fullest experience possible. We would travel, she would encourage me to try all sorts of things to become the best person possible. As a result, she ended up awakening an insatiable curiosity that thrives to this day. I love learning and progressing. I am especially grateful that she gave me my first camera and was always so supportive as I grew in skill. Read more>>

Kyle Hamilton

The biggest thing my parents have given to me that I’ve taken into my own business practices was the value of a dollar. We grew up lower middle class suburbanites for majority of our adolescence-always had a nice house and a warm meal, but extremities with funding was never something my siblings and I would hold our breath for. Read more>>

Chef Cavalli

My parents were a great example in a lot of areas for me. They were a great example of how to being in a loving healthy marriage, how to work together to accomplish goals, and how to be overall good people. I say were because my father passed away, they had been married 41 years this August. :0( . My dad owned his concrete business, and I spent my summers learning that trade and understanding business. Read more>>

Kennedy Christopher

My mom taught me to never give up in anything I did or wanted to do. It don’t matter if it was sports, classes, job etc. She stands on all 10 about her kids and anything we want to do and I love that about her. She doesn’t talk us out of anything, if it’s a bad decision she lets us learn from our mistakes and I appreciate her so much for that. I came to her and said I wanted to do hair out of the blue & she didn’t ask any questions, she said ok only if you’re serious. I’m so thankful she was behind me throughout this hair journey Read more>>

Rebecca Noelle

Both of my parents are extraordinary artists who have instilled in me a love for art and music, kindness toward myself and others, and a strong drive and work ethic. I am grateful to say that they have always had an unfaltering belief in me and my dreams. Read more>>

Alise Versella

My parents have not always been the easiest people to live with or to have grown up with. The relationships have often been volatile and hurtful. Four individuals under one house with different ways of being and differing opinions. That said, the older I’ve gotten the more I’ve come to understand my parent’s pasts. What made them who they are and how they are. That’s not to excuse their behaviours at times but as a way of finding empathy. Read more>>

Buck Martinez

My family fled a communist Cuba in the early 1960s when I was just a small child to come to the United States with only $5 to our name. My parents worked extremely hard and instilled in us the importance of faith and surrounded us with family – family was, and still is everything to me. So much so that Student ACES, the non-profit I co-founded 10 years ago was with my daughter, Krissy Webb. Read more>>

Kristie Lloyd

In the mid-80s, I entered this world a daughter of two addicts. It was the best thing that would ever happen in my life. As a result of their addictions and unstable lifestyles, my father’s parents took custody of my sister and me. That’s where my true story begins. Read more>>

Jacqui Jackson

I love this question and first want to say that my parents – Rev. John and Janice Jauregui – loved us well (and continue to do so!). They also love God and placed those two relationships – with their Heavenly Father and with our family at the forefront of their professional and personal lives. They adopted both my sister, Jessica and me from Colombia, South America. Read more>>

Yo Dj Star

Out of many things, the one thing I really admire my parents for is letting me be my true self. They’ve never made me feel less of a person for making the choices I’ve made in life. They’ve always supported me on being whoever I wanted to be and I’ll always love them for that! Read more>>

Chase Conner

My parents let me be me. And I know it sounds weird but they never stepped on who I wanted to be. No matter if that wasn’t who they wanted. Once my mother knew I loved music, and old music like frank Sinatra she would buy me all his albums. Or when I got into hip hop she got me a lil Romeo CD. She was always letting us be artist. Read more>>

Jessica Hunter Hogenmiller and Jenny Hunter Stifter N/A

Our parents are both artists; our dad is a musician and our mom is a seamstress. They taught us how to follow our passions, embrace the discomfort of being a beginner and the power of hard work and dedication. Growing up our dad practiced his trumpet every night which inspired us to put in our 10,000 hours of practice in our own crafts. Read more>>

Jamilah Milah” Lucas”

Growing up in a military family, my parents taught me the importance of not giving up or quitting when challenges arise. I remember when I had my first ballet class and complaining to my mom about the classes being hard. Even though I loved ballet, I started to believe that maybe this style of dance isn’t for me. I got discouraged and wanted to quit but just like everything else I would start in my life, my parents didn’t let. Read more>>

Karla Rios Luna

I’m the daughter of a mathematician father and a very artistic mother. I was also raised by my paternal grandmother, who was an English Teacher. Therefore, I consider myself blessed for having this variety in personalities while I was growing up. It led me to be who I am. A logical thinker, an extrovert and a spiritual person. Read more>>

Amanda Turano

Well to start, they are the best parents. They’ve done so much for my sisters and I growing up and still do. They’re always the first people to jump in to help or talk you through anything you may be going through. Growing up, I didn’t have many interests. I never thought twice about my future or what it would look like. I was just living in the moment being a teenager. I truthfully don’t know what they thought of who I was or what I was doing at that moment in time, but I do think they trusted me to figure it out. Read more>>

Jessica Guevara

I know not everyone is as fortunate to be able to consider their parents as examples and role models. I could not be more thankful to have been raised by two incredible human beings I get to call Mami and Papi. Both of them have been fundamental in who I am and therefore have impacted my life and career in innumerable ways. I think one of the most impactful things they did right was that they led and continue to lead by example. That saying that goes “kids don’t do what you say, they do what they see” might not have been popular while I was growing up, but it’s something they both modeled daily. Read more>>

Bennett

My parents have done many things right, but one thing that always stands out to me is that they always encouraged me to follow whatever it is I wanted to do. They taught me that if I’m going to do something, it has to be done right, that hard work is important, and to give 100% or don’t do it. So today with my music career I take those lessons and the ability to grow and apply that dedication x1000. Read more>>

Dominique Vicedomine

My father was a single oil and gas engineer my whole life raising just me so it was just me and him until I was 18. Because of him I am the person I am today that I can be proud of. My biggest lessons were in confidence, ingenuity, bravery, and execution in planning. Because of that slowly but surely I’ve built an empire I can stand on and be proud of. Thank you, Dad. Read more>>

Abanga Etuk

My parents have instilled a massive work ethic in me to the point where I have been working since I was 14 years old. I remember myself being in elementary school sweeping up hair at the barber shop and receiving a small allowance for it. I then I’m middle school was partnered with radio shack while living in Colorado, and they would also pay me a reasonable allowance as well. I always have to have money coming in and as they always say. As long as someone owes you money, you’ll never be broke. Read more>>

Rachel Greb

The name of business, Fig Life, is also an acronym. It stands for fierce inner growth and it was also my mother’s initials. From a young age, my mom always taught to color outside the lines. That is how I chose to live my life, to be me and not let any lined hold me back. This is what it means to be fierce. I also watched her as she helped so many people and had a profound impact on their lives. She was fierce. Read more>>

Pierrejerry St Gelus

My parents are hard working. If there was one thing they taught me is to do the right thing always and never complain. This actually has been the theme of my life. My parents are some of the most inspiring people I know. I remember there was a time for at least 5 months straight, we would go to bed hungry. Read more>>

Deirde Lee

My mother did right by teaching me survival although we shouldn’t be living to survive unfortunately that was the case for us when my parents divorced. I have a lot of my moms characteristics of “I’ll figure it out” or “I’ll get it the best way I know” instilled in me that I’ll forever cherish and use as a tool when it comes to entrepreneurship. Read more>>

Maya Richardson

Wow, I love this question! The first thing that comes to mind when I think of what my parents did right, is simply instill in me the belief that one day I could achieve my dreams. Pursuing a career in the arts, especially wanting to be a singer is usually met with very little support from loved ones accompanied by a “when are you gonna get a real job”, due to how hard it is to make it a successful source of income. My parents never once made me feel like they didn’t believe in me. Read more>>

Rob Newmans

That’s easy, SUPPORT! My parents have always been supportive, no matter what I was getting into. I think I was fairly a good kid which have made it easier for them to do so. They obviously provided me with as much love as I could absorb while still laying down the law when it was needed. But what I think I appreciated the most was them letting me go out into the world and be myself. Even when it was something they may have been nervous or scared to watch. Read more>>

Tierra Castile

Well to say the least not everyone’s childhood story is the same. I’m very blessed and thankful to have two strong women who are important to my life raise me. My foster mother who instilled and spoke love and life into me especially during the times I had my surgeries. She taught me the importance of prayer and keeping my faith when times are rough and she also taught me how to stay humble and keep a good character. Read more>>

Dwan Johnson

At an early age, my parents instilled the importance of education. They didn’t make college seem as though it was an option; it was an expectation. Since education had been ingrained in me my entire life, I developed a love for learning. I became an avid reader. I would go to art museums and any cultural thing I could find. Because of my parents’ influence I now have a bachelors, masters, MBA, and PhD. Read more>>

Ethan Goss

Both of my parents always have a project. It is more obvious see that with my father. You walk into his house and his projects are on display. In one corner he’ll have an unfinished wooden fly rod that he’s building. He perpetually has new wooden lure designs that he is making and testing out. There’s always a tool that needs to be restored. My father imbued me with a natural curiosity and a love of craft. Read more>>

Tanya Gold

The best thing my parents have ever done for me is give me freedom. They have a talent even to this day to give guidance and nurturing but not to the point its overbearing, actually very indirect guidance. It gave me the ability to feel supported and loved but at the same time space to take chances , take risks and make my own mistakes. It felt like the perfect balance that ever kid needs growing up and even to this day. Read more>>

Meddy 305

Our parents have the biggest impact on our choices and the way we build our life because of their continuous support, guidance, and love. Growing up with them has meant learning some essential values and ethics that I have consciously taken with me throughout my life. I have always been aware of the effort my mother made in order for me to become who I am today as a successful professional. It’s only right to acknowledge how profoundly she have shaped my current lifestyle and career. Read more>>

Devon Bennett

My parents have always encouraged me to pursue my interest in art without passing judgement on the quality of the finished product, and I really appreciate that. I remember as a very little girl drawing and coloring with my mom. We did other arts and crafts together too, like painting or making birdfeeders with pinecones and peanut butter and coating them in birdseed. There was never a “right” way to make something or do art, which I believe is an important lesson. Read more>>

Eileen Elizabeth Popovich

My parents taught me the value of hard work, dedication, perseverance. Both of them worked incredibly hard to build a life for their family. They never made excuses, put in the hard work, and achieved success from nothing. Read more>>

Isaiah Brown

I’m so blessed to be raised the way I was. Both of parents have been in the medical field their entire lives. My dad started working in a funeral home at 18 and ended up owning the ambulance service for my small hometown Ashland, OR until the city took it from him. He then started an air ambulance service that would fly patients to health facilities per the patients needs / treatment requirements. My mom was a paramedic for my dads ambulance and that’s how they met. Read more>>

Anya Gibson

I am fortunate enough to have two loving parents who have done nothing but encourage my eccentric, rebellious spirit and vision, whether it be for Three of Swords or anything else related to my life’s path. I was lucky enough to grow up with a father who instilled a love for the strange & unusual within me (elementary school car rides were filled with Depeche Mode, The Cure, Read more>>

Tempestt Jackson-Poma

My parents taught me to believe in myself. My dad taught me business before pleasure; to make sure all my business is handle before anything else, and my mom taught me to always be honest; be a woman of integrity, always treat people well no matter how they treat you. My mother has always took in the less fortunate, sometimes I would come home from school and she would have somebody new moved in that she was helping get on their feet. Read more>>

Indrajit Banerjee

My father, Shyamal Kumar Banerjee put me in one of the best schools in Kolkata even though it was expensive. He also gave me the opportunity to learn music by enrolling me in music lessons and encouraging me to take up music as a career despite the fact that it was not a lucrative profession at that time. My mother was also a professional sitar player. Read more>>

Francine Kitkowski

Plain and simple, my parents taught me the value of hard work. Francis Sr. and “Peachy” Hubert were typical Midwestern blue collar workers. Fran was a Jack of all trades, specializing in installing carpeting and flooring. My dad worked into his late 60s before falling victim to cancer at age 73. His hands were rough and callous, the result of often 12- to 14-hour work days. His heart was golden. Peachy has been a house-cleaning specialist since her late teens. To this day, she still has several cleaning jobs. Read more>>