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.

Raquel Diaz

Like any other immigrant who comes to the United States, my mother’s purpose was for my siblings and me to have a greater opportunity. When my biological father decided to step out on us, things became a little bit more difficult for my mother as she still wasn’t a legal resident. Read More>>

Nicole Collins

Growing up, my parents made sure to instill confidence that I think they wish they had. Both my mother and father have always told me that there was no limit to what I chose to do and to what I could accomplish. With this, I have gone through life and never second guessed my ability to go for what I wanted or switch careers. Read More>>

Nicole Rizkallah

My parents each brought something unique to the table that shaped who I am today. My mom is an incredibly opinionated and strong-willed woman, and while that wasn’t always easy to navigate as her child, it taught me the value of honesty and authenticity. She always stood firm in her beliefs, no matter who was in the room, and she modeled the idea that you should never compromise who you are or let anyone make you feel inferior. Read More>>

Caitlin Trainor

I grew up in the time before parenting was a verb. My mother was a fine art painter of portraits and nudes and a highly improvisational chef. My father was an irrreverent professor of philosophy who generally preferred books to people. So rules were hard to come by and with 3 older siblings, it was a ‘Lord of the Flies’ kind of culture. I like to joke that if you didn’t get dead, you learned to take care of yourself. Read More>>

Heidi Holman

Growing up extremely poor and not having resources/connections that wealthy families naturally have made it challenging to get my career started. But my parents helped me make a few wise decisions that many of my peers didn’t. Read More>>

Bella Karakis

My parents were both born during WWII in the former Soviet Union in what is now Ukraine. They were both first in their families to graduate from college. My Mom became the Soviet equivalent of a CPA and my Dad, a building engineer. Being Jewish, they both had to surmount hurdles getting into college, thriving in school and finding jobs after, due to the rampant antisemitism they faced. Read More>>

Bethany Lloyd

Starting a business can be SO scary, but I’ve been fortunate to have the unwavering support of my parents throughout this journey. They’ve always been my greatest advocates, and without their encouragement, Serendipity Floral Designs wouldn’t exist. Read More>>

Shemia Garner

Raised with the strong foundation of faith in Christ and support from my parents, I learned early on the importance of standing up for what’s right. One of the most formative experiences of my childhood came when my mother defended me against a coach who made racist remarks about an opposing team during a basketball game. Read More>>