Childhood 2: My Parents

I don’t even know where to start when I talk about my parents. I’ll just give you some memories that really stand out to me about each of them.

Daddy:

My dad knew how to make me feel safe and secure. When I was little I was never afraid of monsters under my bed or in my closet like a lot of kids were. I remember that he told me monsters used to live in the house but when he moved in he ate all of them. It was a perfect explanation of his belly and calmed my fears. He would also check for snakes under my sheets before I got into bed.

He always played with me too. He didn’t mind getting down on the floor and picking up a Barbie (he always picked the prettiest one). He also didn’t mind playing Pretty Pretty Princess(I wish there were pictures of this), he always won.

I remember when he would wake me and my sister up early to go fishing. My dad was my hero, and still is one. When I got a little bit early he would wake me up to go golfing with him,  I was the “caddy.” It was also how I learned to drive, he won’t let me forget the time I ran into the flower bed trying to get to the bathroom though, or the time I ran into someones cart…whoops.

He calls me his “boy.” Probably because at a young he taught me things that little girls would not normally learn. He also taught things to my cousins and sister. One thing I’m sure we all benefited from was his belching lessons. I can burp on command if the need arises (which is never). And for laughs I can say words as I burp, most specifically the word “Buick.” Not sure why we learned that one but it’s sure funny to see a little kid do it.

I still call him Daddy at 22. I can’t really tell you why, other than that Dad just doesn’t fit him. If you looked at him you’d probably think he wanted a boy that was the star on the football field and basketball court. But if you know him, you’d know he has a soft spot for his little girls and wouldn’t trade either of us for that boy. He’s always been a hero to me. Maybe it’s that he destroyed all the monsters for me and protected me. I think a lot of it is the love he showed me. It didn’t matter to him if he looked silly wearing a plastic crown, he just wanted his daughters to know how much he cared.

Mom:

I think the first real memory I have is when I feel off the bleachers when I was three (I’m pretty sure I was three anyways) right after my mom told me not to sit the way I was. I cracked the back of my head open on the rails. This is the worst injury I’ve ever had. This memory reminds me now of the saying “mother knows best” and my mom definitely did.

One of my favorite things was making Christmas cookies with her. We would make snickerdoodles with peppermint and sprinkles. I loved rolling the cookie dough through the sprinkles. That could be the reason I’m a better baker than cook. I didn’t like the kitchen as much when she was just making dinner.

She used to work as a bookkeeper when I was little and I got to go to work with her a lot. I remember sitting on the floor next to her desk and drawing on copy paper (the big old papers that were green and white). There was a spiral staircase in the office that she worked in and I would always try to jump from it and scare her.

When I was in second grade my mom went back to school to become a PTA. She went to school in a different town a few hours away. It seems weird to me now that I lived almost a year without my mom. The year seemed to take forever but she always came home on the weekends to be with us.

I grew up with ear infections and tonsillitis all the time(or it seemed that way), so I spent a lot of time at home sick. I remember my mom taking me to McDonald’s for happy meals when I was stuck at home. I would always get a plain cheeseburger and a milkshake. She knew how to make me feel better. She would also take me for ice cream cones after I had to get shots. My mom was always a soothing presence growing up. Somehow she just made things better. She still does, it’s something I really admire about her.

My parents taught me a lot of values growing up. They gave me encouragement and strength, gentleness and kindness (fruits of the spirit much), love and compassion. I hope that someday I will be able to show my children love they way my parents showed it to me. I love them and am so thankful I was blessed with the most amazing parents I could ask for.

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