Children can teach Parents

I’m the first-born son of two hard-working Mexican immigrants. My Dad wasn’t able to finish elementary school because he had to work in the fields to help support his family.

And, my mom wasn’t able to finish high school because of the problems she was facing at home with taking care of her parents.

Because I am the oldest in the family, it means I have to experience everything in life first.

It was difficult for me talk with my parents about life in high school because they had never gone to school in the United States.

And, growing up, there was always this language barrier with my parents.

I speak Spanglish.

I didn’t date or go to prom in high school because my parents were overprotective, and they thought that the high school extracurricular activities were a waste of my time.

I missed out on a lot of parties and dances, and my Dad still has no idea how sad and lonely my life was as a teenager.

Parents aren’t perfect, and I don’t blame my Dad for acting the way he did.

At times, it was difficult to have immigrant parents because I felt so estranged from them.

I know I am not the only one who deals with emotions like this. The best way I feel I can describe is that I am the one who “broke the chain”.

I thank God that I have the parents I have and that they raised me the way they did.

Sometimes, even children can teach their parents more about themselves than they ever thought possible.