get to know my parents better

I learned that once, my ultra-conservative buttoned up mother threw an ashtray at a doctor and hit him square between the eyes because he pissed her off. I didn’t think my mother would EVER in a million years do something like that. I also learned, from her sister, that she used to just skip school for no reason at all, and go off alone and wander the streets of downtown, hang out in museums and empty churches (just to look at the architecture) and always wanted to live in another country. I’m glad I listed this as one of my goals because I’m seeing a side of my parents I never knew existed. When I talked to my mom about this she just said “guess you never thought I was as cool as I’ve always known myself to be – I just don’t brag – cuz that’s not cool”. Huh, good advise.

So: Once my folks get their new house, I think my Dad and I are going to be starting a You Tube series. I’m very much looking forward to having a chance to collaborate with him on something like this. I can’t wait for my “off” time to start and for them to get settled into their new place – once they find one.

Soooo I have a LOT of parents. I’d like to get to know all of them, but mostly my Step Dad.
—My Step-Dad…I dont know what happened. We used to be like best friends, and when he and my mom got divorced…we kinda drifted away. I became a teenager and He found a girlfriend. Im not going to whine about her, because it would go on for days. She changed him SO much and hes really not the same person anymore. Sometimes I think he cares more about her than me…its not a good feeling. Im about to go through some of the hardest years of my life and Id really like him to be there for me, give me advice, and just be a Dad instead of an idiot. I dont know what Im trying to say…I guess that I want my Dad back…it would be nice.

I wish I had gotten to know my Grandparents better. I remember them well enough, as they were all alive until I was a teenager, but I didn’t really get to know them as their own people rather than as my grandparents.

I’ve been beginning to get to know my parents better, but feel I have a long way to go. I want to have a better understanding of who they are, what’s shaped them, and where they’re wanting to go in life.

I’m not sure what a good milestone for this is.

Now that I am a little older and no longer a rebellious teen, I find myself wanting to be closer to my parents. I heard someone say once that the hardest thing a parent can learn to do is become their child’s friend after raising and guiding them for so long.

Now that I am married and wanting to start a family of my own, I see my parents struggling with this, trying not to lecture me so much and just learning to be there for me. I want to be able to not only have a parent/child relationship with them, but to have a type of friendship with them, as well.