A thank you to my parents… who have kept me grounded my whole life, but especially in the past year.
House Rules: Honor your commitments. Stand up for each other. No phones at the dinner table. Include everyone: there is always room. Laughter is the best medicine.
Be all in.
February, 2011. 8:00 P.M. Dad and I huddled around the table, watching the snow drift down as we marvelled at my science fair project, spotlighted by the dim kitchen light. The artist in Dad had pulled out all the stops to help me with my project, just like he always did. I knew that my project would be one of the best as Dad gave me a high five.
All in.
October, 2013. 7:00 P.M. I gazed at the spread of food with delight and wonder, taking in how Mom had really gone all out with the desserts this year: little ghost and pumpkin cookies among other Pinterest-worthy Halloween snacks. Dad then pulled into the driveway with my little sister in the front seat, his partner in crime for the evening. He had spent the week and that afternoon making up a scavenger hunt around the neighborhood for my friends and I, complete with riddles and goofy costumes. Those days were always the highlight of my October. In my opinion, Dad’s scavenger hunts and Mom’s treats made my Halloween bonfires the best in the whole middle school.
All in.
December, 2016. 9:00 P.M. “Believe,” from The Polar Express was playing, our favorite Christmas song, as Mom decorated the tall, skinny tree that always stood proud in the corner of the kitchen. For the record, there are always at least five full-sized Christmas trees in our house come December, not to mention the dozens of small ones that Mom collects and scatters throughout. I took in each brilliantly decorated room, the garland, lights and colors perfectly reflecting Mom’s pure love for Christmas. I’ve always loved our home most in December.
All in.
May, 2018. 12:30 P.M. I sat in my high school cafeteria for the very last time, staring at the black sharpie figure scribbled on the side of the brown paper sack clutched in my hands. A little doodle of a familiar mouse, this time wearing a graduation cap. Dad’s blocky handwriting: “Happy Last Day, Mouse,” marking the last time Dad would draw those little dots and lines I had been seeing on my sack lunches ever since kindergarten.
All in.
“Take pride in what you do,” Dad always used to say. “If you’re gonna do something, do it right.” Even though Mom isn’t making pumpkin desserts for me and my middle school friends, and Dad isn’t packing my lunches anymore, I’ve realized that I’ve carried this mindset with me as I have grown up. It shows up in my writing, my schoolwork, projects, friend’s birthdays, or anything else. Because, although unspoken, it was ultimately one of the most important family rules: Go at it full force. Give it everything. Be all in.
I hope this serves as a reminder for everyone reading to be all in, too.
