Blogger Challenge: Day 4

Day 4: Your Parents

Like just about everything else, my relationship with my parents has evolved over the years. I went through what I consider a normal amount of teenage angst and disdain toward my parents. I don't remember a whole lot from those turbulent years, but I do remember writing my mother a letter that I wanted to be put in foster care. Awful, I know. I was a fun teenager.

Things have improved a lot since back then. The past 2 years or so have been pretty pivotal in our relationship. When I moved back from California, I moved back in with my parents. It was necessary at the time, but understandably difficult for all involved. There is just something that happens psychologically and tragically that is hard to explain unless you've experienced it. Moving back in with your parents-- no matter how old you are-- regresses you. It's impossible to avoid. All of the sudden you're having the same fights you had in high school over the dishes and asking your dad for $10 to go see a movie on a Friday night. It was a difficult year.

Since then I've grown up a ton, and my parents have been nothing but supportive. I moved back out on my own, got my finances in order, decided to go back to school, and just generally got my poop in a group. I know that they have always been proud of me, but I suppose I believe them now because I'm actually proud of myself. They have always let me make my own mistakes, that's for sure.

I've been at a place in life for awhile now where I am separating my beliefs from my parents and deciding what I value the most. There are certainly things we don't agree on (tattoos being one of them), but they always make it abundantly clear that they love me in spite of any of that. I know that I am incredibly fortunate to have parents that I can talk to about almost anything, and I grow more and more thankful for them with each passing day.