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.

Phoenix Yang

I really appreciate that my parents kept a clean and cozy home for me, and brought me into nature when I was a kid. We had a patio with a good mountain view, and my dad set up some swings for me to enjoy sunshines and stary nights there. They also took me to fish in rivers and lakes, where I had chances to explore interesting routes with birds singing. Read more>>

Ajuan Mance

I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember, and by artist I mean someone who creates with intention. My intention, from a laughably early age, was to create work for sale and exhibition. I created my first illustrated book in second grade, in 1973, and I fully believed that it would be published and read by other kids. Who would publish a book by a seven-year-old child? I didn’t have time to ruminate over such details. I had more books to create (and more posters and bookmark and greetings cards, t00). My parents took my art as seriously as I did. They nurtured my interests, while also following my lead. Read more>>

Nancy Eckels

My parents met in an oil painting class taught by a fairly well known illustrator in the 1940s. While my Dad later pursued his career as a chemical engineer, my mother continued to paint into her late eighties. My mother’s brothers and sisters were also artists, so I was introduced at a young age and continued to be exposed to art the entire time I was growing up and well into my adult years. I have dabbled in art off and on my entire life, but spent 25 years working in television before I left to pursue a full time career in art. In my Mom and Dad, I had a couple of enthusiastic supporters of my work for nearly all of my life. Read more>>

SALUSTIANO

They gave us unconditional love and trust in us in a way that made us feel self-confident so that we could develop a successful and prosperous careers. I was 5 years old when I made the decision of to be an artist: I had made a drawing and I showed it to my mother. When she saw it she was amazed and surprised, then she went straight to me and hugged me full of emotion. I felt that this embrace somehow invested me with the responsibility of being an artist. It was as if I suddenly had permission to try. I considere that maternal permission is essential to develop all the potential everyone of us is carrying inside. Mi book ALMA MATER (Nurturing Mother, Mother who nurture us) is dedicated to her and, therefore, to all mothers who inspire and encourage all of us in a very loving way to archive and deliver the best of us. Read more>>

Oskii Chevanier

Post immigration My mothers health declined due to adopting the Western lifestyle. When she almost died having me she began to study the holistic Herbalism and lifestyle that she was raised on in Jamaica. She healed herself and her children and brought me up with that wisdom. My father was a model father in every way, except he did not take care of himself. I lost him to prostate cancer when I was 14 years old. Read more>>

shawny ellsworth

My parents were hard working immigrants. I was 2 years old when we came to the states. My parents had very little money and truly started from the bottom. We lived with another family, so 7 people in a 1 bedroom apt. My parents did what they had to do to provide for us. I slept while my parents went to pick strawberries at 4am. Fast forward to when I was 10 years old, they purchased a donut shop and best believe they put me to work during summer break. I used to stand on a stool while ringing up customers. I learned the value of hard work and perseverance. The best gift my parents gave me is learning how to hustle at a young age. I watched them Never give up, even if it’s tough or if you feel like it’ll never get better, it always will. Bet on yourself, you will never lose, Read more>>

Stix Nilsen

My father basically came from poverty in Mobridge, South Dakota. Chinese food was obviously very foreign to him so he didn’t experience it until later in life. His first fortune cookie was quite profound for his fortune was a simple lesson in life everyone should follow…as he did every day on this earth (RIP Dad): “Never look down on someone unless you’re there to help them up.” I have always tried to stay true to those words both personally and professionally. Read more>>

Sarah Michaels

My parents are a pair of amazing weirdos. My dad worked as a commercial illustrator for decades, and now creates art for himself in the form of painting, drawing, metalwork, clay – you name it, he does it. A constant creator. My mom is starting to consider retirement after working her entire life as a research scientist, a dean of a medical school, and a professor of gross anatomy (see: cadaver labs and dissections!). She has an obsession with botany, fossil hunting, and rock collecting. I consider myself a near perfect 50/50 split of them both. My dad has taught me that to spend a life simply creating is a life well-spent. My mom gifted me her incredible curiosity of the natural world, to be in awe of the way things work, much of which directly inspires my artwork. Read more>>

Harrison Allen

I truly couldn’t ask for better parents, especially as someone who has entered an artistic field. We lived in an old farmhouse on a hill in a small rural town in central Vermont which was a fantastic place for me and my five siblings to grow up. There was plenty of space and nature and my siblings and I would spend most of our free time after school outside until the sun went down, relying on our imaginations and the woods that bordered our house to entertain ourselves. We invented games and myths that we would develop over the course of years. These made-up worlds in our backyard seemed to act as a replacement for “screen time” entertainment, which my parents limited for us kids. Read more>>

Joseph Rosko

My mom taught me to treat everyone equally, from the custodian to the CEO. A person’s worth isn’t valued based on their job title but, who they are as a human being. This has really helped me when networking or, working with various clients that range from celebrities to your everyday person. My dad taught me to always ask. When I was very young he’d never let me tell him what I wanted to order at a restaurant or, purchasing something at some type of business. He’d always make me tell the server what I wanted to order or, to speak to the person behind the counter when making a purchase. He’d always say, “If you ask and they say no, then you’re no further behind than when you you started. But, if they say yes, then a new door will open.” So much of my success as an entrepreneur has been from being fearless to ask for help, ask for a sale, ask if innovation was possible, etc. Read more>>

Dara Hamilton

My parents showed me faith and strength, they both had their own business when I was growing up. Seeing them made me know I can do whatever I want. My parents supported me from day one of my journey and continues to be there whenever I need them. Read more>>

Mrinal Bhavsar

I grew up in a family that greatly valued passing on culture and tradition to the next generation. My parents started an entire Indian Classical Music School and Non Profit Organization when I was about 5 years old, involving hundreds of people, just so me and my brother could grow up learning, teaching, practising and performing our roots in Indian Classical Music. They showed me that it was a million times more feasible for me to create a career in the creative arts with community. They taught and guided me through the process of creating my own unique lane as an artist, and how I can best capitalize off of it in order to create my dream life. Read more>>

Lauren parrish

what my parents did right. it’s funny, I have believed for most of my career that we learn from the people/bosses/contacts-what was done wrong, so we can learn a lot from what would change and do differently. but my parents..my mom and dad. they taught me independence, love, partnering, to show up and to never judge a book by its cover. their unwavering support showed me to never give up. to follow my dreams and take out the noise. Read more>>

John Borack

My parents always encouraged me to follow my creative path and do whatever made me happy. When I was 8 years old, my father bought me my first drum kit, and I bashed around noisily for several years while teaching myself to play. My mother would be watching television or crocheting in the very next room, but never once did she tell me I was making too much noise or that I should stop playing. My mom and dad were also my biggest cheerleaders in all my endeavors, and I feel a bit melancholy that they didn’t live to see me get a book published, a song written, or play drums at a show. But I’ve tried to pass the lessons they taught me—work hard, don’t give up, and treat people the way you want to be treated—to my children. Read more>>

Nathan Navarrette

I was raised in a very unorthodox environment. My parents were divorced when I was just starting middle school and it was a huge culture shock for me, but it was a scenario that built character and perspective. I was blessed with two distinct modes of being raised and I gained a lot of value from both. My mom was who I mostly grew up with, and she did right by showing unconditional love and support in all of my endeavors. She taught me the importance of loving myself, striving for good things, and treating others with respect. My dad gave me his undying work ethic in small moments of working with him in the garage or telling him I got my first job and getting his advice. He gave me the pearls of integrity, honesty, and the truth that hard work will always prevail. Both of them imparted wisdom that has helped not only my career, but my everyday life. I am a more amicable person, a valuable asset to any team, and the voice that makes everyone laugh because of the perfect people they are in my eyes. Read more>>