Parents Lift You Up

So today I would like to share a story about my parents. To me they are amazing and I would not be where I am today without them.

Image I drew for this post. It represents all parents who hold their children above the waves of life. No matter how hard it is for them. They are determined to give their children a better life then they had.

Both my parents left home and school before they should have. They came from very little and started in the work force at the bottom. No connections or directions from their parents.

My Dad in fact worked at Hallensteins after leaving school. For these not familiar it is a men's clothes store. From what I gather it use to be a bit more up market focusing more on suits. Now days it has a full range of clothes for men. He worked very hard and with dedication that is not seen today. He achieved multiple awards (one ironically a metal first aid kit) for not taking sick days over a full year. He worked his way from the bottom to manager and top dog of his store over 21 years. It is not easy to stay at a job for 21 years but he did. He was the main bread winner for our family of 6 for most of my young life. He should of been a builder because he is a talented handy man.

My mother on the other hand had goals. She always wanted to do better in life. When she wasn't looking after her 4 daughters she was painting the house or looking after other kids. When I was about 10 years old (I am the 3rd child), after a series of low paying jobs, she decided she would to go back to 'school' and became a real estate agent.

Many people attribute my parents success in life to luck and getting into the housing market at the right time but not many people know their back story. Not many people know that when I was young my Mum had ~$10 (today's NZD value) a week for personal items but she would instead buy fruit for us. I never went without. Sure I may not have had the latest toy but my parents never failed to put good clothes on by back, a roof over my head, a full belly of good food and confidence in my heart.

Here is a story I found out later in life:
When it was heavy rain, thunder and lightning my Mum would make hot drinks and gingernuts (a hard biscuit). She would be excited and tell us to come and watch out the window. Every time there was a flash of light we would count until we heard the thunder. The length of time represents how far away the storm was. Thunder and lightning was fun. I found out later in life that my Mum was actually a little scared of the thunder and lightning but I never saw it. She gave us confidence to look at things in a different way.

I have 3 sisters. A registered nurse, a ecologist and zoologist, (I am a qualified mechanical engineer,) and a registered industrial electrician. I believe we owe our success to them.