So many of us parent the way our parents did – because it’s the only example we’ve had a chance to see up close. We think one of the ways to remedy this is to create a space where people can share stories of the things they feel their parents did right, so we can all learn from those examples.

Laurie Schwartz

Born and raised Amish my parents taught me work ethic and values I use to this day. Read more>>

Robin Easton

The greatest gift I’ve ever been given is a life without TV. When I was about five years old, I arrived home from school one day to find the family TV gone from our living room. I ran crying to Mom, who was peeling potatoes at the kitchen sink, “Mama, Mama, where’s the TV? How come it’s not in the living room? I wanna watch TV.” Mom calmly said, “Daddy will explain when he gets home. Why don’t you go in the backyard and play? It’s nice out.” Read more>>

Kala Stein

My parents were back-to-the-landers and part of the counter-culture movement. Their lives and work were one in the same- homesteading and building a self-sustainable lifestyle. Growing up with this pragmatism and idealism taught me how to grow and preserve food, carpentry, animal husbandry and live close to the land, according to seasonal rythms. This upbringing gave me work ethic and a deep spiritual connection to the natural world. To this day, it informs my work and how I choose to live in the world as a creative person. Read more>>

Mario Santacruz-martinez

Something my mom did right that has impacted my life, and in turn my career, is water my heart and soul with the language of art. Growing up in a first generation immigrant household, we spoke Spanish at home and when at school we would learn English. This juxtaposition left me unsure of my place in the worlds I was navigating, I became recluse when I went to school, barely speaking and not understanding how to navigate the pace of this experience. Read more>>

Louis White

My parents played a significant role in shaping who I am today, both personally and professionally. My mother had a profound influence on my creative side. She encouraged me to express myself freely, whether through drawing, playing musical instruments, or exploring different musical genres. This freedom to explore without limits helped me become the artist I am today, expressing my vision of the world through visual art and creating memorable experiences for others as a DJ. Her encouragement to embrace all my passions and always strive for excellence has driven my work ethic and creativity. Read more>>

Queen Coke Francis

I’ll admit that I was really, REALLY lucky having the upbringing that I did. Not just having the privilege of living in a middle-class household in a safe neighborhood, but the fact that my parents have both always been very supportive of my passions and interests (as well as when I came out to them as bisexual when I was 13). The fact that they’re both creatives themselves factors into that, my mom is a writer and former chef and my dad is a voice actor and teacher. Both are entirely self-made. Read more>>

Emmy

My parents did a great job at setting a good example of how to work hard but also how to work smart. They set me up to be an independent thinker and take responsibility for my actions by giving me full control of managing my grades and allowed me the space and resources to do that and focus on that as my “job.” I was in a place of privilege because of the school I went to and the level of education I got from an early age. Read more>>

Cherie Jones

When I reflect on what my parents did right, I am filled with gratitude for the foundational lessons my mother imparted to me, which have profoundly shaped my life. My mother played a pivotal role in teaching me the importance of self-worth. This lesson has been instrumental in my journey as an entrepreneur, fostering a strong sense of independence and confidence. Growing up, I was enveloped in an atmosphere of unconditional love. My mother’s unwavering support has been a constant in my life, providing me with the strength to pursue my dreams. Even now, as a grown adult woman, I know I can always count on her to have my back. Her love has taught me the power of supportive relationships, a core value I strive to promote within the community I am building through my business. Read more>>

Sarah Preston

They taught me to do at least one thing each day, to better my life tomorrow and to handle my businesses. Read more>>

Ebony Overstreet

What did my parents do right? They raised me under the belief and understanding to “Always do the right thing, and no matter what happens that as long as I was doing what was right they would always have my back, and even if I made a bad decision, they would love me through it.” My parents taught me unconditional love and to always keep going, no matter how hard things got. Read more>>

Don Jayy

My mother has taught me, practice makes perfect and to never give up. This has helped me so much in my career as you go through so many errors along the way. Thank God for blessing me with renewal each day to make something better. That always translates through my mind & work. Read more>>

Felecia Walker

One of the greatest gifts my mother gave me was the belief that anything is possible, no matter the stage of life or the obstacles in the way. Growing up, she would often tell me, “You can be anything you set your mind to,” a lesson I’ve passed down to my own children. But what makes this truly powerful is that she didn’t just say it—she lived it. As a single mother, she worked tirelessly to provide for us, often putting her own dreams on hold. Instead of going to college after high school, she went straight to work to support our family. However, when I graduated and left for college, my mother made the bold decision to apply to college herself. I love sharing the story that we were in college at the same time, and we graduated just one week apart in May of 1995. Read more>>

Billy Bitter

They instilled the importance of having a strong faith at a young age. They were fully committed in raising all six of their children to play lacrosse. They drove us all over the eastern coast to practices, camps and games to compete against the best players. Read more>>

Jenifer Brown

My parents and grandparents taught me the importance of being a self-starter. They emphasized that if I want something, I have to take the initiative to pursue it. They always advised me not to wait for opportunities to come to me, but to actively seek out what I want. My Dad used to tell me, “You can’t wait for others to bring you opportunities, find what you want and go after it.” Their encouragement to carve my path has shown me that with hard work and passion, I can achieve anything. Read more>>

Carolyn Campo

My parents are without a doubt the reason I was able to pursue a career as a creative. I knew when I was younger that they supported and believed in my abilities, but now that I’m a parent, I am just beginning to comprehend how lucky I was to have had them see me for who I am. I always group my mom and dad as a collective, especially since I was very close with my dad, kindred spirits, but my mom was instrumental in fostering my artistic and creative abilities. In first grade we moved to a town in New Jersey that would get pretty heavy snowfall in the winters, and that first year we were hit pretty hard and had probably more snow days than school. I started making doll clothes for my American Girl doll out of some craft fabric my mom had laying around. Read more>>

Sara Sabokpey

My parents instilled two invaluable qualities in me: unwavering belief and resilience. My father’s mantra, ‘Don’t dwell on the problem; rise and find a solution,’ has been a guiding principle throughout my life. They encouraged me to think creatively, explore unconventional approaches, and persist in the face of adversity. These lessons proved crucial in my entrepreneurial journey, particularly in the challenging world of startups. Their teachings equipped me with the mental fortitude and problem-solving skills necessary to navigate the unpredictable terrain of business. Read more>>

Edvin Davoodian

Well, I’d honestly say everything. They were always the ones I’d go to for opinions on anything from school to work. Even if they were things that I didn’t agree with at the time, my experiences with them are what made me who I am today, and I’m forever grateful for that. Read more>>

Beth King

I was just talking about this with my husband the other day. Growing up, I always wanted the nice, brand name clothes and shoes that all of the other kids were wearing at school. My family wasn’t poor, but they also couldn’t always afford to purchase these items for me. My parents told me that if I wanted these things, I had to work for them. This resulted in me working two jobs throughout most of high school and college to be able to go shopping for higher-end clothes. I’m now realizing that “hustle” has always been in me, and that I was always willing to work two jobs to be able to create the life I wanted. Nothing has changed! Read more>>

Hillary Burgess

I grew up surrounded by running. As a child, my mom would take my siblings and me to drop my dad off for his long marathon training runs, or to cheer him on along the course. He was (and is) also a track and cross country coach, so I experienced those sides of the sport as a spectator early on. When I was 7, my dad asked if I wanted to run a 5K, and it was that 5K that began my 25-year (and counting) running career. Read more>>

Kathryn McGregor

My parents have always been incredibly supportive of my artistic pursuits. From a young age, they encouraged me to explore painting and drawing after seeing the way I took to it. After school everyday, I would retreat to my room to immerse myself in my art. It became one of my primary sources of entertainment and relaxation. Read more>>

Jungmin Cha

My parents made to sure that I had enough experience in all aspects of my life. For example, I would be really into a variety of sports, and they always made sure to sign me up for teams. If I wanted to learn an instrument then they would also make sure I had the opportunity to give it a try. The biggest opportunity was allowing me to come to United States and study abroad. They never let me have a “What if” moment, rather I was lucky to be able to experience a lot of things. This has impacted my life and career, because I was able to visit my parents at their jobs and I was have to get the opportunity to see how their life works and why I was able to do such things in my life. This has impacted my career because due to the fact that my parents deal with a lot of international topics, and people, I was able to smoothly get along with different cultures and views. Read more>>

Crystal Hilsley

I was raised by a single mother, my dad passed in a car accident when I was almost 2 years old. My mom who loved to care for others put herself through school and became a nurse. She was also a very health conscious mom and we at whole foods at every meal, only enjoying treats on holidays or special occasions. I recall thinking my oatmeal was birdseed because it was filled with dried fruit, nuts and seeds and sweetened only with a little local honey. Our back yard had fruit trees, a strawberry patch and a vegetable garden. My childhood memories are filled with pulling fruit from the tree when we were told to stay outside and play, burying my brother’s action figures in the strawberries, and grabbing carrots from the ground for dinner. Read more>>

Liz Fiorino

Shortly after their separation, my parents collaborated on special gifts for my two older sisters and me. They framed lyrics or poems that reminded them of each of us. On rainbow-colored stationery, they printed for me the lyrics to “True Colors” originally sung by Cyndi Lauper but since covered by many artists because it’s such a beautiful song. I was a highly sensitive child, and my parents were not perfect. But they had the wisdom to nurture the unique qualities they saw in me and empower me to share them with the world. It was the best gift they could ever give me. Read more>>