Memoir final

The speaker emphasizes the importance of maintaining and developing relationships with their parents for their overall well-being. They express gratitude for their parents' support and unconditional love, especially during a difficult time when they faced punishment for their actions. The speaker values the wisdom and advice they received from their grandmother and grandfather, which taught them to choose their associations wisely and prioritize spending time alone. They reflect on how their parents' love motivated them to improve and appreciate the unique bond they share. Despite challenges, the speaker acknowledges that their parents' love will always guide them and expresses a desire to give back in the same way. Who is here to stay? For many, including myself, it is crucial to expand and develop the relationships with your parents to maintain a healthy social, emotional, mental, and physical development of your character. Throughout my life, it's been apparent that my parents have done a lot of things that I didn't know were possible. They provided for me in every aspect, protected me since my first steps, and played a huge role in my development and success over the course of 18 years. My appreciation and acknowledgement continue to grow the more I realize that my parents are the only individuals I need in my life and will do everything in their power to demonstrate their unconditional love. The constant gesture I have in my mind to repay them is taking every opportunity to spend time with them due to alarming circumstances of my friends losing their parents and never being granted the chance to talk to them again. I vividly remember this scenario, near in high school, where I received punishment due to improper behavior, but being that my parents were divorced, co-parenting wasn't easy and often involved having a meeting with lesbians to communicate. My parents were heavily disappointed with my choices and actions, almost seeming to disown me or shun me away, but I hoped and prayed their love would pull through. Fortunately for me, that happened, but it wasn't necessarily the most enjoyable summer considering I was basically on lockdown. Although, it provided me the opportunity to spend countless hours with my grandmother, Joanne, who would become a great influence in my life. Often, my grandmother would ask certain questions or make comments regarding the certain situation of me getting in trouble, but I didn't understand the significance until later. One specific comment stuck with me with me until this day is kind of who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are. It was the comments you referenced explaining the significance of understanding those with whom you associate yourself and acknowledging that those are the ones you end up following and practicing similar interests. Regardless, if you are putting yourself around people, there could easily be a scenario where people aren't looking out for your best interests or are not who they say they are. This made me question and go into relationships very slowly because I never wanted to get in trouble or be crossed, but I never had to worry about that with my parents, so I always leaned towards them to begin with. Not too many people understand the significance of spending time alone, how relationships are often fake and misconceived, and how many individuals lack vital qualities necessary for progression in life, etc. My grandmother, on the other hand, provided me with a crucial key to life, which was spending time alone and keeping to yourself not only ensures you are not where trouble can be, but can't find you were. We spent countless hours together proving not only was it beneficial to stay away from chaos, but build on your relationships and get access to information either making life easier, understanding more about your family, ensuring someone feels valuable or worthy to be a part of your life. I understand when I spend time with my family it offers me knowledge and experience I can engage and add to my own life, but it also makes them feel valuable. Where would I be? My parents and friends saved me from doing worse, but also kept me from understanding the power of unconditional love. I had never seen more disappointment on their faces. I acknowledged my wrongdoings and focused on doing better for the ones standing up for me. If I hadn't gotten in trouble that summer, I can assure you I would have easily been doing the same nonsense, so their methods were efficient. Of course, this is not the only situation they have applied this to, but it has shown their unconditional love regardless of the actions I commit in life. I spent some of that time that summer talking with my grandfather, although nice, joking about times when he got into trouble and using those to view the consequences that replaced it as we repetitively associate ourselves with no good individuals. A valuable takeaway from our numerous conversations was, si escuetas al cielo cae, if you spit to the sky it falls, meaning how you treat others or what you do to others could easily be the cause of your own downfall, ensuring to love those around you and closest to you because we only have one opportunity to do so. The takeaways I received from these punishments weren't necessarily the ones I expected, but I understood that my parents' love is the reason they wanted me to do better. How many people have made me feel this way? Not many, but my grandparents and my girlfriend, who is the best person I have ever met. This was going to not confide in other people, understanding or considering I knew there wasn't going to be that unconditional love I've been granted my whole life. As life has persistently offered those gestures, I've taken them in and been filled with the same giving gesture. I want my parents to feel the gratitude and appreciation I have for their unconditional love and efforts, spending as much time with them as possible and doing my best to give back in similar ways. I never understood that whole time I was so angry at them, but later I was so thankful that I had parents who cared about my well-being. Yes, they punished me, said unkind things, looked disappointed, but I know that if they hadn't cared, they wouldn't have tried to change my behavior. Often, I would glance into other people's lives and view a love that was nowhere close to the one I was shown, but that made me appreciate my corner so much more because of their character. I knew that no matter what, nobody would ever show up the way that they have and will. Was I upset that they hadn't given me my summer? Of course, any child would be, but with all things in life, we adapt and persevere through those difficulties and challenges. I am reassured, once again, that my parents and their unconditional love will constantly guide me to destinations I didn't know existed. A huge sense of relief, my heart is at peace and acknowledges that regardless of the relationships I lack in life, the ones that will be my parents will never dwindle. I constantly raise my hat to my parents, their endless effort and dedication are why I am where I am, and I pray that God gives me even half the opportunities to give back in ways we didn't know. Although adversity and difficulty arose, I developed and grew stronger than ever, ensuring to keep those relationships closest.