My Soapbox

While in a conversation about money, getting a college degree, etc. I was asked recently "Don't you want more for Gabriel than what you had growing up?". This question deeply offended me, has been on my mind all week, and here is why....

I grew up in a home where I knew I was loved and I have never questioned this fact in 30 years, EVER. Do you know how important that is to a person?? I grew up in a home where we ate dinner every night as a family, where we went to church and Sunday school together on Sundays, and where we were encouraged and supported to play sports and do other activities of our choosing. Not only did my parents cart us around to various practices, my dad coached our teams and my mom cheered from the stands. They rarely missed a game. We were taken on family vacations every summer, on a 7 Day Carribean cruise, and to Disney World not once, but twice! When we got older, we took our friends with us! When my parents went places, we went with them. They wanted to be around their kids and we knew it. Holidays were and still are made very special by my parents. We always decorate our house for Christmas the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and most years, my brother and I are still there to do that even now that we have trees to decorate of our own. My dad reads the Christmas story from the Bible and The Night Before Christmas every Christmas Eve, and let me tell you, there is nothing that could keep me away from hearing that, year after year. My most prized possession is my Christmas stocking that my mom cross-stitched for me and I bet Zach feels the same about his. We always had plenty to eat, nice clothes to wear, and more toys that we could have ever played with. We both had nice rooms of our own and I always thought we had a big house. We had plenty. At what point is enough enough??? How many pairs of shoes, outfits, toys,etc.???? My parents have always supported me, even when I worried that they might not accept my relationship with Cedric, they did not let me down. When something is bothering me or worrying me, I don't feel better until I can talk to my parents about it. These are all things that I wouldn't trade for a million dollars and I really cannot express my thankfulness to my mom and dad for providing these things to me.

My parents expected us to work part-time jobs so that we would learn the value of money, but they never "threw us to the wolves" even when we were older. I know if I needed help now, they would do anything in this world to help me. Yes, they did bring us up to value education and instilled in us a love of reading, but I never felt they looked down upon someone who had not gone to college. My father is the most hardest working person I know, he values hard work and education as well, not just a degree (he is a Carolina graduate, for the record).

So let me say this. If Cedric and I can provide EXACTLY what I had growing up to Gabriel, no more and no less, I think he is one very lucky little boy. I can only strive to be the kind of parents that they are.

And you can stick that in your pipe and smoke it :) Boy I feel better after writing this!!!