Parents teach us many things including how to be a parent. We can learn from their mistakes, sure, but we can also learn a lot from the things they got right. We asked successful entrepreneurs and creatives to open up to us about their parents and what they felt their parents got right.

Courtney Tokar

My parents have always had so much courage, and this has forever impacted my life. I have learned the importance of taking risks from them in so many ways. Just before I was born, they immigrated from South Africa where they both were born and raised. When my brother was a couple of years old, they had the opportunity to move to the United States. I will never forget my dad telling me he was on his knees praying harder than ever to be able to move to America. When they were finally able to, it was such exciting news. They left everything behind, all the familiarity of home and family and friendships to start over completely in a whole new culture and life.Read more>>

Maggie Eterno

I am so thankful for the impact of my parents and the legacy they’ve built throughout their life. Long story short, my dad was a local pastor and made a huge impact on many lives. The final decade of his life were the hardest years for him. He endured medical hardships non stop such as kidney failure, amputation of both his legs and then prostate cancer which is what ultimately took him… Something that has greatly impacted my life and my career is the gift of practicing gratitude. My dad always looked for the good in every situation. Read more>>

Emily Alvarez

From around five years old I decided I wanted to be an artist. My family and I had more practical aspirations for my future then, which mostly involved doing art on the side while pursuing a high-income career like being a surgeon, but we crossed that bridge when we got there. Risky career paths are not usually the ideal option for immigrant families who can’t afford to fail, but my mom always told me that she did what she had to, to make sure we could do what we wanted to. She put her whole being into helping my sister and I realize our dreams and trusted us to know how to get there; my path included taking a few art classes, attending an art magnet high school and later going to college for illustration. She woke up at 4:30 AM every day for four years to make sure I got on my bus to high school in downtown Miami at 5:30 AM safely. She looked for tutors when I almost failed math, drove me to college portfolio days and supported me when I moved halfway across the country at 18 to attend KCAI. Even when things got hard, when I failed or just wanted to give up I knew I didn’t have any option but to see things through or all of that work would have been for nothing. Now, regardless of how daunting a task or project may seem, a voice in the back of my mind tells me that it can and must be done; I’m sure some of that is my stubbornness, but part of it is my mom’s internalized voice and example showing me that we can make things work. Everyone needs someone to believe in them even when they don’t believe in themselves, and I’m so lucky to have had someone like that since the beginning. Read more>>

Leona Gamble

I truly feel I’ve been blessed with the perfect blend of left and right brain influences, thanks to the harmonious balance of science and art in my upbringing. My father, a micro marine biologist, and my mother, a passionate artist, provided me with the best of both worlds. Read more>>

Allen Benatar

My parents were always extremely supportive growing up. I always wanted to be a Drummer in a band when I was a little kid. They always told me to follow my dreams and to work hard at whatever I do, and that it would pay off in the long run… and that’s what I did! I started out playing in school plays when I was about 7yrs old and went on to playing my first live show with my first (serious) band at the age of 15. I went on to tour the world and got into Acting along the way. Today I continue to perform as well as run my perfume oil company. It all takes time but hard work always, ALWAYS pays off. Read more>>

Julian Green

A generally held belief throughout Western society is that despite very best efforts, most parents “screw up” their kids in various ways.. I can’t say that my belief system varied significantly from this widely held assessment. For years I associated many of my interpersonal challenges, financial insecurity, and mental health challenges with Harold and Shirley (my biologicals). Throughout childhood to adulthood, it felt easy to draw a correlation between my challenges and my parents’ mistakes. My father, an army veteran struggled my entire life with addiction and died in 2017. Mama had a career in psychiatric nursing, and loved the field of mental health, but in many ways chose not to do her own mental health work. For what feels like forever, I saw so much of them in my irrationality, introversion, and irritability, and self-deprecation. The coronavirus pandemic shifted my beliefs in this regard with no mercy perhaps, for the first time in my life, I had the wherewithal to see myself outside of my influences and genetics. It was frightening, but during that time I was able to offer myself something that I hadn’t before –the opportunity to be human. During the pandemic, I saw an uptick in the number of other black men seeking therapy; through my support of them, I began to nurture myself with greater intention, much like the way I would nurture a treasured friend. As I knocked around this process (it’s much easier to support others with this type of work!) I gradually began to develop forgiveness and compassion towards my parents, who both survived, significant traumas and stress during their formative years. Read more>>

Brittnee Lee

Our parents made sure they instilled a love of the great outdoors at a young age- from camping, hiking and learning to respect mother nature. Fate would have it, that we would eventually meet and fall in love at a campground both of our families had been camping at since we were children. Read more>>

Calissa Ngozi

I owe everything to my parents-or my “parentals” as I lovingly call them. You see, I am adopted. With that, comes a lot of internal baggage, questions, emotional projections, guilt and insecurity. When I was old enough to navigate through all of those thoughts and feelings-I understood and accepted that they chose me to be a part of their family, and for that I am forever grateful. Read more>>

Skye Walker

My parents were the original power couple. Morris and Lynn Walker were musicians and entertainers who traveled around the USA and the world performing original songs and entertaining thousands of people on stage long before my sister, Amoris, and I were born. Their passion for art, music and Mother Earth permeated their lives and that trickled down to my sister and I as we grew up. When we were little, my parents made us part of the family band and together the Walker family became The EarthWalkers. We also traveled and performed all over the USA and entertained schools, community centers, special events, colleges and many other spots from coast to coast. We had a focus of saving the environment as a theme in our shows. Read more>>

Katy Manganella

In my work as a therapist, I often find myself talking with people about what their parents did wrong. When I had the chance to answer your question now, I felt a pull towards it. Not because my parents were perfect, but because I want to recognize that my mom really did her best in very difficult circumstances. My mom was (and still is) a very thoughtful parent. I remember when I was 11 or so, she sat me down and talked with me about insecurities. She told me about how it was normal to feel insecure and she used the example of “some people feel insecure about their noses, this is a normal way to feel and it doesn’t mean anything is wrong with your nose.” I remember after that, looking in the mirror thinking, “there’s nothing wrong with me.” I think her naming that insecurities were normal prepared me for having them, and at the same time, cognitively prepared me for not letting those insecurities consume me or impact my self worth. She talked about emotions in a similar way. When I was going through something tough, she’d sit with me. And she’d tell me she was there and that I wouldn’t always feel this way. Her go to phrase was, “this too shall pass.” She didn’t try to rescue me or solve problems for me, she was just there. And that is what I needed. She was reassuring in that 1- I wouldn’t always feel this way, and 2- I had the capabilities to navigate whatever I was going through. My mom instilled a strong, stable sense of self in me, and I am very grateful. Read more>>

 Ryan Jaeger

When I was going into high school my dad got me and a friend jobs pouring concrete with a company in town. It was the most miserable summer of my entire life, but it gave me perspective and taught me the value of work ethic. Read more>>

Tianna Wilson

Over the years, I have watched my mother experience so many different challenges.

My mother was my explain of a “strong black women”, maybe to strong! There were days when the weight of responsibilities seemed insurmountable, when life’s trials threatened to dim the light within me. Read more>>

Gulrukh Bala

My parents have unwaveringly lived as conscious energy beings, always present. Whenever a moment turned sour, I observed, they silently steered it back to harmony. Read more>>

Averi Llanes

My parents took the risk of being small business owners! My parents own a Chiropractic office and though a very different industry than the one I am in, I have been so inspired way they love their clients, have rode out the highs and lows of business, and stepped out in faith when it was time for something new. Without them I don’t think I would’ve had the guts (or knowledge) of where to start! They have helped me countless times with filing taxes and encouraging me to keep going on the slower months. My parents taught me to keep going when things get tough and as all small business owners know, things can get TOUGH. They also invested so much into me always being in some form of art class. Even though they wouldn’t consider themselves creative, they always nurtured my desire to create from a young age. Read more>>

Amanda Koger

My parents instilled in me the value of reading and writing. They encouraged within me, the love of art and storytelling. My parents were both musicians and very creative people to be around. Anytime I needed help on an assignment, my mother was the key. She was an human dictionary. Anything musical, whether that was reading or writing music of my own, my father helped with it. They used to allow me to have puppet shows in the living room, or we would all play our own respective musical instruments on family night and sing together. Those are some of the best memories I have of them. Read more>>

Kamyab Mohager

My parents, immigrants from Iran who fled before the Islamic Revolution due to their believe in a minority religion called the Baha’i faith, taught me two fundamental values: strong work ethic and the importance of mastering a craft that contributes to society. Their experience and teachings have been the backbone of my professional and personal life, guiding me to pursue a career that not only excels but also serves humanity. Read more>>

Emily Tippett

I started taking a ceramics class in High School, at Hoggard, with Mrs. Hunt. and just fell in love with it. I took 5 semesters and my parents encouraged me to continue it at CFCC. I was very hesitant but I’m glad I did, my instructor Geoff there was amazing and helped me grow so much. As my time came to an end there I started thinking about going to get my 4 year degree (because I thought that was the next step). My parents asked me a question what would you do with this degree? I didn’t have an answer I didn’t know what I was going for I was going because I thought that’s what you did. They said, why don’t you travel the world, and try this pottery thing out you like so much. I looked at them and laughed and said artists don’t make money!! Yall our roles were reversed. I traveled a lot, I worked, I didn’t start my business but I did pottery here and there! However my parents kept on asking good questions and encouraging me to chase what I love. I eventually started More Than Clay!! Read more>>

Vanessa Alcala

I am a proud first generation college graduate, but I have such respect for those who developed certain life skills that school cannot teach. Neither of my parents had the privilege of attending college, yet the generational barriers they broke are truly admirable and worth more than any college degree. Some of the traditional beliefs are: Read more>>

Joyce Ioannou

Growing up, I was raised by a single mother. I grew up in a middle eastern home and having just a mother meant that she was both parents at the same time. I remember watching her flawlessly divide her time between working and being a mom for my sister and I. She was working 3 jobs, looked very thin and tired but always had a smile on her face. It was that drive to provide and be successful, independent and strong to her daughters that resonated and grew with me into my adulthood. Read more>>