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Today we are celebrating my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary.
First off I wouldn’t be typing this if they hadn’t gotten married because I wouldn't be here to do so. For that I am very grateful.
They raised 4 children to adulthood who have become productive members of society. They gave us a stable and safe home where we knew we were loved even if we were being bratty or teenagery. They provided a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs and other things that rounded out our childhoods nicely. When I think fondly back on my childhood, my memories are of things we did with them or they did for us.
We traveled as a family and saw many parts of America. We went to art museums all over and learned about art. My parents introduced us to the world of radio plays and things that they had heard when they were younger. I will always remember listening to our “let’s pretend” records and hearing folks tales as radio plays. They are the reason we can quote long sections of Stan Freberg’s comedy sketches. Later we did the same with Hitchhiker’s Galaxy.
They were concerned parents who watched our TV shows with us and showed interest in things that we were interested in. I will always remember watching Warner Brother cartoons on Saturday Morning with my dad. We shared the things we loved with them and they never belittled us for it even though I am sure there were some things that they just had to grit their teeth on (think early Sid & Marty Kroft).
We have a series of catch phrases that we still stay around each other and the rest of the family knows what we are talking about. Things like “You knew the job was dangerous when you took it Fred” and “I’m Tamernela Grendertha the witchest witch of them all and the one you didn’t invite to your ball” and of course 42.
We are a family that gets along and that came from them. They never fought in front of us. They provided a united front. If Mom said No then Dad said No and vice versa and there wasn’t any room for argument. When my mom was teaching nursing I offered to go into her classes and inform the students that No means No not try to argue it to a Yes because it isn't happening. If she says maybe, then you might have a chance depending on the tone of the Maybe.
I try to be a good parent because I want to live up to what they taught me by their actions. When I was a child I swore I wouldn’t do certain things to my kid but when I got there and could see why they put that restriction on me or whatever, I find my default position is what they would have done in my shoes.
And they let us know that they loved each other very much. They would do things for each other. They took pride in finding gifts that they knew the other would enjoy. They made time for themselves to be by themselves whether it was a dinner out at a restaurant that didn’t have a children’s menu or going to see the ballet together or seeing a play together. They put each other first in their lives. And they still do.
Today they are renewing their wedding vows 50 years after they first pledged themselves to each other. They will be joined by family and friends to witness this wonderful love that has been going strong for so long and continues to do so.
I am so very grateful that my parents are MY parents.
First off I wouldn’t be typing this if they hadn’t gotten married because I wouldn't be here to do so. For that I am very grateful.
They raised 4 children to adulthood who have become productive members of society. They gave us a stable and safe home where we knew we were loved even if we were being bratty or teenagery. They provided a roof over our heads, food on the table, clothes on our backs and other things that rounded out our childhoods nicely. When I think fondly back on my childhood, my memories are of things we did with them or they did for us.
We traveled as a family and saw many parts of America. We went to art museums all over and learned about art. My parents introduced us to the world of radio plays and things that they had heard when they were younger. I will always remember listening to our “let’s pretend” records and hearing folks tales as radio plays. They are the reason we can quote long sections of Stan Freberg’s comedy sketches. Later we did the same with Hitchhiker’s Galaxy.
They were concerned parents who watched our TV shows with us and showed interest in things that we were interested in. I will always remember watching Warner Brother cartoons on Saturday Morning with my dad. We shared the things we loved with them and they never belittled us for it even though I am sure there were some things that they just had to grit their teeth on (think early Sid & Marty Kroft).
We have a series of catch phrases that we still stay around each other and the rest of the family knows what we are talking about. Things like “You knew the job was dangerous when you took it Fred” and “I’m Tamernela Grendertha the witchest witch of them all and the one you didn’t invite to your ball” and of course 42.
We are a family that gets along and that came from them. They never fought in front of us. They provided a united front. If Mom said No then Dad said No and vice versa and there wasn’t any room for argument. When my mom was teaching nursing I offered to go into her classes and inform the students that No means No not try to argue it to a Yes because it isn't happening. If she says maybe, then you might have a chance depending on the tone of the Maybe.
I try to be a good parent because I want to live up to what they taught me by their actions. When I was a child I swore I wouldn’t do certain things to my kid but when I got there and could see why they put that restriction on me or whatever, I find my default position is what they would have done in my shoes.
And they let us know that they loved each other very much. They would do things for each other. They took pride in finding gifts that they knew the other would enjoy. They made time for themselves to be by themselves whether it was a dinner out at a restaurant that didn’t have a children’s menu or going to see the ballet together or seeing a play together. They put each other first in their lives. And they still do.
Today they are renewing their wedding vows 50 years after they first pledged themselves to each other. They will be joined by family and friends to witness this wonderful love that has been going strong for so long and continues to do so.
I am so very grateful that my parents are MY parents.
