Being an out-of-state college kid has taught me 3 things.
1) Never sign up for a class that starts before 10 AM.
2) Having a car and a home-cooked meal is a privilege, not a right.
3) I have the best parents in the entire world.
Most teenagers are excited to move out and finally get away from their parents after high school, and I was one of them! Why else would I have chosen San Diego (not too far from home, but far enough that they couldn't come visit every weekend)?! After a couple of months on my own though, I realized that this whole distance-from-everyone-I-love thing was not for me. My relationship with my parents isn't like most 19-year-old girls'. They have this awesome parenting style where they're my friend and invite me to talk openly with them about literally anything, but at the same time they maintain a level of parental authority over me. I never understood why my friends always had to lie to their parents about what we were doing or where we were. I realize now that it's because they didn't have the same trusting relationship that I do with my parents.
My dad is my ultimate hero. He has worked insanely hard his entire life to give me this fortunate life I have. He's also a budding little chef. It's so cute how excited he gets about new recipes he learns from The Food Network. He'll make a thorough list of everything he needs (another cute tendency of his) and the meal will be on our table the next night. I never used to care for his experimental cooking, but having to live off of Panda Express and dining hall food for 5 months really changes your idea of real food. What I admire most about my dad is his opinionated, argumentative, and strong personality. He will argue his point whether he is wrong or right, but isn't too proud to admit when he is wrong. He encourages me to think bigger and to never limit myself. I take after him a lot in the personality department and I am so proud of that.
My mom is my best friend. We disagree on almost everything and always bicker, but we are basically the same person. She knows absolutely everything about my life. I'm not exaggerating either; if I've done it, thought it, or said it, she knows about it. She's great at comforting. Something about that motherly instinct maybe, but she just seems to know how to do or say exactly what I need when I need it. She's loud and obnoxious and all of my friends love her. She is generous and thoughtful and genuinely cares about everyone she has ever known. I never used to appreciate all she does for me, but being without her for so long has really opened my eyes to how important she is to my everyday life.
The point of all this sentimental-ness is to give a prelude as to why I'm uncontrollably excited for tomorrow afternoon. Instead of spending this weekend alone in my dorm I get to spend it with my parents, my grandparents who are in town visiting, and some of my other extended family. They booked me a last minute flight home (not cheap, by the way) and I have been counting down the hours ever since.
To summarize: I'm just really excited to get home and see my favorite people!
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| We love Disneyland. |
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