This date would have been my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary. Unfortunately, my dad passed 17 years ago, but it’s still a special day. My mom posted these beautiful pictures which certainly made me reminisce and think about my parents, their relationship, my family and more. What a journey.
In today’s blog (officially #400) what better than to share some of the greatest lessons learned from my parents along their journey. God bless my mom as she’s 83 this year and still providing wisdom, guidance and support to me as her youngest son.
Number one: Provide. My parents always provided for us. No matter where we were, no matter the situation, or the circumstance. My parents provided the support, provided presents, and opportunities. By no means were we spoiled, but they certainly gave us everything we needed to be successful in life. They provided an amazing childhood filled with memories, warmth, and full of love.
Number two: There’s always room for another plate at the table. Whether it was friends, family or just someone extra for dinner, I felt like they never said no to having someone over. We always seemed to have enough to eat, enough room, and enough love to go around. This was no more evident later in my life after I graduated college, when the amazing Dave Pulli came to live with my family. He was only supposed to stay with us for one year, but that one year turned into seven and David became like another son to my parents, and another sibling to us. He was a true example that there’s always enough room for another plate at the table.
Number three: Forgive. My parents certainly had their fair share of arguments and fights. While fighting was not a constant, I certainly remember there being conflict from time to time. More importantly I remember the coming together. I remember the love. While my parents’ relationship was never perfect. It was true it was authentic and when there was a conflict, they forgave each other.
Number four: Always take a vacation. We certainly did not grow up rich, but we always took a vacation every summer. We were either in Ocean City, Maryland, the Jersey shore, camping in the Poconos, or down to Myrtle Beach. They were the best times. We went out to dinner each night. My parents treated us to ice cream each night. Long days at the ocean, with big
dinners and smiles, are some of the best memories I ever had. Always take a vacation; it brings your family closer and allows for extraordinary experiences. While money can be tied at times, and maybe you don’t have the time off or the financial well-being to take a vacation, try to make it happen. It doesn’t have to be a five star all inclusive resort either, it could just be a trip to the beach where you’re together as a family.
Number 5: Commit to your family dinners. Lastly, commit to dinners as a family. We were busy. It was always somebody coming and going. Always a practice to go to, always a game, but one of the things I remember most is having dinner with my family at the table. As I shared earlier there was always enough room for an extra seat, but we knew that there would be spaghetti and meatballs or some wonderful home-cooked meal every night. My mom was always in the kitchen prepping something and we always had that time together as a family.
Happy anniversary to my mom and my dad in heaven! I think about my dad so often and I’m blessed from all the lessons that my mom and dad gave me over the years. I share many of my stories of my parents in my writings and certainly in the man I have become, and the parent that I’m ever striving to be.
Keep surviving and thriving on your journey as well.
