My older brother and I spent our early days under the care of my grandparents while both my mother and my father worked. Soon after I was born, it became clear to my parents that my mother, an attorney, was going to have a higher potential for success than my father, a sales executive. My parents always felt that daycare and nannies were not an option for our family; that is when my father made the biggest career choice of his life: he quit his job to become “Mr. Mom.”
Being a stay at home dad in the 90’s was not as socially acceptable as it is today. It was not commonplace for the father to assume the role of the maternal figure in his child’s life, and for this he faced a great deal of scrutiny from those around him. Luckily, he wasn’t concerned with the opinions of others; he just did what he thought was right for him and our family. This has taught me to be above other people’s judgments and has made me self-confident. My father chose put our family before him and because of this I have learned to be caring and empathetic. I see my father as a trailblazer, one who was not afraid to sacrifice his career for his children, a strong example of confidence and self-assurance.
Growing up, I saw my mother, one of the strongest women I know, following her dreams and working hard, oftentimes only coming home to sleep for a few hours before going back to work. She was able to look past the inequality she faced as a woman in the workplace and not let the “glass ceiling” get in her way. My mother has taught me that hard work does pay off, and I will carry this lesson with me throughout my life. My mother is what I strive to be: strong, brave, and caring.
My parents’ strong values have helped me learn to accept different ways of life, as well as make decisions based on what is right for me, rather than what others are doing. Thanks to my parents I am resilient, thick-skinned and determined, I do not let others judge me based on the choices I make. I am proud to have parents who were able to break through societal norms and follow their own paths. My mother and father are truly an inspiration and are the best role models a girl could ask for. The most important lesson that my parents have taught me throughout my life is my normal is not the same as other people’s normal, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.