Let me tell ya, being young is rough… You can’t do anything without a parent. These past few weeks, for me at least, have been prime examples of that, like tanning. I love tanning, it’s so relaxing, but guess who has to be 18, or be with a parent? This girl!

Or even getting money out of my bank account, I have to be 18… I’m 17, see the problem? I could go on and on about everything we crazy kids can’t do, but that would take far too long…

Many things in my life almost always require parental approval; it’s kind of funny how much a few years can make a difference… I guess lately I’ve understood that just a little bit more though.

So what exactly am I trying to say here?

Well, other than the fact that I’m limited in what I can do, and sometimes find myself angry toward such rules, parents are such a good thing, especially mine. Granted, I would love to be completely independent, but honestly, I know I need them in my life. When they tell me no, usually it’s for a good reason, whether or not I always believe that, well, is a different story. Sometimes I can be a bit irrational, go figure, right?

And it’s taken me a while to finally realize how truly lucky I am. I’m pretty certain most teenagers believe that parents purely exist to ruin lives. I sometimes think the same thing, but, to be honest, they do the exact opposite.

Parents make things OK when they might not be, and they are pretty much the only people in your life that will never leave you. I couldn’t even imagine my life without my parents.

They have given me the opportunity to do whatever it is I could dream of, and they were always there for me in everything I did. They came to watch me twirl batons in parades, even the Glenmont homecoming. That’s dedication right there. They came to band concerts, tennis matches, NHS inductions and school functions, and I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t trade any of it for the world.

I know I wouldn’t.

When you’re all tiny, cute, and in the first grade, the most reassuring thing during a school play is waving to your parents as soon as you see them. You know that no matter what, someone is there that wants to see you dance around in paper pilgrim hats and play musical instruments for an hour, which to them might feel like an eternity.

But I know they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

When I was little, Wednesdays were my absolute favorite days. I’d come home from school and my dad, who had the day off, would always have surprises. My favorite was the mini pies he would make for us, and the M&M’s would always be on top. He’d tell us to not look in the fridge, but I knew what was in there… every time. He makes me smile, my dad is wonderful.

As I got older, my parents were still there. My first dance in middle school, my mom was the one helping me get ready, along with my squealing friends. She took pictures, listened to the stories afterward, and to be honest, she kept doing that… It was nice to come home with parents waiting up, ready to hear about my first dance, and then eventually my first date, and my first day of high school.

My parents have always been there.

So this year is going to be a bittersweet change. My parents are going to come sit in the high school gymnasium and watch as the announcer calls my name to receive my diploma. All the school dances, plays, tennis matches, and long nights of homework are over. They, I guess, have done their time during the endless nights of always being busy and listening to me come home to tell them about my day.

But I know they wouldn’t change any of it for the world.

Then comes mid-August. I will be leaving their house and this will be my first bit of independence from them, and let me tell you, I’m scared. I will no longer see them waving back in the crowd or coming home to mini pies in the fridge. I won’t have to text them every detail of what I’m doing or have my dad come with me to get my car fixed. I’m going to miss them, more than I think I’ll imagine.

I know they are just a phone call or text away, but it still won’t be the same.

So every time my parents tell me “no” I’m going to probably be angry, but eventually come to my senses and realize everything they do for me is good. Yes, good, and that the days that I get to spend with my parents, even if it means them telling me what I can and cannot do, are going to be some of the best of my life.

No matter what, my parents are the only people that have been through everything with me. And I know that they wouldn’t change it for the world.

And neither would I.