An Open Letter to my Parents

Dear Mom and Dad,

So I’ve been on this planet for almost 22 years now and I’m finally starting to realize what you’ve been trying to prepare me for my entire life until now… I emphasize the word “starting” because I don’t think I will ever fully understand, although you tell me when I have kids I will. So until then, I am just getting a glimpse and that’s what I will continue to tell myself. I realize now that I don’t know everything, and that when you told me that I didn’t, I should have believed you. I really should have…

There are things that I’ve been through in this life that I would never wish upon anyone. Stupid situations that I shouldn’t have been in, but I found myself in anyway, even against your advice to me. Yet when I came to you for help, you never once said “I told you so” or yelled at me. You guys were always so calm and level-headed, and to this day, I still don’t understand why. At first I thought it was something that came along with being an adult. Alas, here I am, a so-called “adult” and I still call my dad crying when my bank account is down to $15 after running just a couple errands with my paycheck and it’s payday, so now I get to wait another two weeks. Being an adult is tough, and coming into my own has helped me to realize that more than EVER. And it just makes me more thankful that I’ve had two of the best parents to be able to raise me and teach me exactly how to work through it (in the past, present, and future).

“Life is short, and times are hard. So here’s you’re fucking birthday card.” For whatever reason this always comes to my mind when I think of situations lately… I remember when I was younger, I never understood why this phrase was written on a brown paper bag. Well, now I get it. Cause the phrase is true, life is short, and times are hard. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of it. Even the poor bastard who made the (hilarious) card knew that he had to make the most of it! Well you guys always did too. We’ve always made the best of everything, mostly because you taught us to. Christmas’ when we didn’t have a lot of money, we still made it work because you taught us to just love being together. “We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.” That quote always hung in our kitchen, and I believe that, and you guys always reinforcing it allowed me to have my (mostly) sunny disposition.

I never want you guys to think that you were bad parents. I know with any kind of turmoil we’ve ever had those thoughts float into your head and take up permanent residency. But they really shouldn’t, and I know that me saying this won’t keep it from happening. But maybe it can help to ease the voices that tell you that you weren’t good enough parents, because you are. You are spectacular parents. You raised us well, both Peter and I seem to be relatively well rounded human beings, and not everyone is as lucky to have two parents like you. So no matter what the situation, financial or otherwise, know that I will love you endlessly. As long as we all have each other, I realize, there is nothing else that we ever need.

So know, that if I don’t always say it, I love you. And even when we are not together, I am thinking of you. You will forever be my two favorite people on this planet. Thank you for not raising a complete idiot, I could never emphasize my gratitude enough. But hopefully this is a start...

Your Daughter,

Hannah Elyse

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