Since becoming a parent, my thoughts have naturally combed back through my own childhood and considered both the aspects of my upbringing that I want to improve on and the aspects that I am thankful for in a whole new way.

I thought it would be fun and special to do a roundup of the things that my parents did for me that made the biggest impact long-term. No matter what kind of home you grew up in, I believe there are things we can look back on with a spirit of thankfulness for the traits they grew in us.

Travel

By the time I turned 18, I had traveled all over the US, to Mexico, Germany, the UK, France, Italy, and Kenya. Many of these were ministry trips through my church youth group, and Europe was our senior trip through school. I’ve continued to travel since then, and I have my early travel experiences to thank for that!

My parents even let me take time out of school in 10th grade to travel with an otherwise all-adult group from church to Africa. If there is any gift I feel most thankful for, it is their willingness to let me travel and the financial support to get there.

Because of those experiences, my eyes were opened to completely other ways of living, different ways of understanding the world, totally different cultural ways of viewing self and community, poverty, true joy, and that delicious discomfort that comes from being really, really far away from home.

It gave me an early appreciation for religious freedom and educational opportunities. I vowed to go to college and get a degree, for myself, and also for the people I met who told me they wished to go to university more than anything else in the world.

Letting Me Try New Things

Growing up, I wanted to try a different activity every other week. Thankfully, my parents helped me weed out the not-so-sustainable ideas (like acting, when I auditioned to be the Oscar Myer Weiner kid and begged for an agent, LOL!) and signed me up for other activities even if they seemed weird, were expensive, or took too much mommy-taxi drive time.

When I watched the movie 3 Ninjas and decided I wanted to become the fourth ninja, they let me cut my hair boy-cut-buzz-cut short and sign up for Tae Kwon Do (I made it to Deputy Black Belt, FYI!)

I took piano lessons, voice lessons, did cheerleading, tried softball, spent probably hundreds of extra hours in select ensembles and honors choirs, and they came to my shows when I got into musical theater (I was totes Maria in West Side Story!)

They even supported me and my best friends when we wanted to start a band in high school. But for real, that band ended up selling hundreds of albums and we played loads of shows all over NC and the east coast!

Most of my new ideas were met with an “OK, go for it!” and because of that, I’ve never been too afraid to be the new kid at something.

A car in my name

On Christmas morning when I was 17, I woke up to my sister jangling car keys in my face, saying “Look outside! Look outside!” My parents had bought a car for me to drive, from Santa of course. It was a lightly used Kia Sorento and I was in love. I listened to No Doubt, Muse, Sixpence and Death Cab SO loudly!

My parents filed for bankruptcy my freshman year of college. It was a total shock to me, and I suddenly went from total financial dependency to total independence. Like, tuition, gas, food, school supplies, insurance - everything.

As a very generous gift during that process, my dad signed the title of the car over to me. In the financially difficult years that followed through college and post-college life, my car was a consistent home base and a key of possibility for me. I could drive myself to jobs, my classes, home, church, and to spend time with friends.

It is an incredible privilege to have a car.

Summer Camp

Praise God that my parents sent me to summer camp for one week every single summer! I was one of those kids who literally couldn’t wait until I was old enough for overnight camp, and when my time finally came, I brought my own decorations for my bunk and was eager to meet new friends.

We weren’t a church-going family before I started going to camp, and it was the first place anyone ever explained who Jesus was and is and what he did for us. When my counselor asked if anyone wanted to live with Jesus and give their all to him, my hand shot up without hesitation (like, duh! This guy is awesome!)

Each year I made new friends, grew in confidence, and fell in love with the atmosphere of learning, the comfort of a great schedule, the sense of togetherness, and the outdoor fun. I’m very much looking forward to giving my kiddos a similar experience!

Making me go to Youth Group

For all of the ways I was a pretty “I can’t wait to meet new friends!” kind of kid, I was scared to tears (literally) of going to youth group for the first time. We were new to this church, and it felt like all the other kids my age had already grown up together and had their groups of friends.

I was so scared to walk into the gym that first night of middle school youth group that I hid under the stairs and cried. I remember my mom going to some of the other girls and telling them that I was new and nervous and she came back with one of them (hi Amanda W!) and that girl was so gentle and kind that I felt like I could try, just the one time.

Well, that one time turned to most of my Wednesday and Sunday nights (and of course a bunch of trips!) all throughout middle and high school being fully involved in youth group. We traveled together, learned together, and I helped lead worship. I made amazing friends and hilarious, precious memories.

I will forever be thankful that youth group was a huge part of the backdrop of my upbringing. It taught me responsibility and a love for accountability, community, and a love of scripture and prayer. And ultimately, it led me to some of my best friends in the whole world!

Teaching me a love for art, design, and creativity

My mom is an artist by trade. For as long as I can remember, she has painted watercolors, oils, and oil pastels. She decorated our home beautifully and rearranged the decor regularly. When we renovated our family home when I was in early high school, she designed the extension and exterior landscaping in such a cool way. She never really taught me as much as I just watched and picked up her ways.

For that reason, I have such an appreciation for anything that is artisan made, for thoughtful spaces, for unique decor, and for living life in a creative way. And each of my sisters have a knack for creative things, too!

Telling me I love you regularly

While my mom isn’t super affectionate (no hard feelings marmee - she would say the same!), my dad said “I love you” pretty liberally. He made it a point to tell me that it wasn’t something he heard from his own dad, so he wanted to be sure to say it to us.

More than that, at any point before leaving the house for school or a friend’s or a trip, he’d tell me to be careful and to call him if I needed anything. And he made good on that on more than one broken-down-car occasion! That was a practical way that I felt his love.

I’m very thankful that “I love you” is something I heard growing up, and it challenges me to be loose and generous with my own “I love you’s” that I give to John, Griffin, and the new little baby on the way : )

Teaching me a love (and respect) for the outdoors, animals, and firearms

This is another dad-specific one! As the last born of 4 girls, by the time I rolled around, I think dad was itching to pass on his outdoorsy, gunsmithing, hunting ways regardless of gender. And I’m so, so thankful for all he taught me!

To this day, I can keep a campfire ablaze, spot a deer faster than anyone else, and sharpshoot on a bow or rifle. He always taught these things with such an air of reverence, humility, and respect, and for that reason, I always felt like I had some realistic and sobering survival skills in my back pocket if I should ever need them.

And of all the places in the world, the North Carolina woods are my most favorite. The smell, the feel, the quiet and solitude, the wildlife and familiarity make it all feel like both a sanctuary and a home. Like many of history’s greatest poets, thinkers, and creatives, I find that a leisurely walk through the woods can relax any worry, bring about wonderful thoughts and ideas, and provide space to commune with God.

You’re welcome for this. Felt like a good one to end on.

Thinking back, what are some of the best things your parents gifted you with growing up?

Share below, I can’t wait to hear!

Sam

The Best Gifts my Parents Have Given Me