Journal Prompt

                                                         

I follow this super cute blog called Harley and Jane and each week they give a journal prompt and each of these girls respond to the prompt. Some weeks I really like the prompts. Like this one or this one. Check them out, start a journal.

My parents never really told me one thing over and over again for advice. 

I mean I got certain phrases over and over again like,

"Haley, don't talk so loud!"

Haley, calm down."

"Haley relax."

Haley, You're stressing me out."

"Haley, don't play the piano so loud."

Haley, be quiet."

And while I never took these as pieces of advice and more of just a parent being a parent, I realized now that it really was pretty good advice.

I am the loud child in the family, I know that surprises some people, but I definitely am.

I am always the one to make noise and be slightly annoying.

My parents were always asking me to take it down a notch.

Throughout the years that taught me a lot.

Mostly, just to relax, take a breath and take everything one step at a time.

Not every moment will be good but they won't be bad either.

I learned to think about things before they happen, to notice my surroundings.

If someone is trying to nap or get work done, it's probably not the best time to burst out whatever song is stuck in my head as loud as I can sing it.

My parents taught me that.

My parents were never one to just sit down and lay it all out for me.

Sometimes I wish they had.

My mom is notorious for answering the "Why" question with,

Because I'm the mom!

I wish she would have just said because I've been there, I've learned from that already and I'm saving you the trouble.

But I guess in her own way she was saying that. 

My teenage brain just couldn't wrap my head around it.

My parents gave me advice with the rules they set.

Your curfew is midnight.

You don't need to be out any later, there is nothing to do. Getting into trouble is much easier.

No phones or friends on Sunday

Sunday, is not only the Sabbath and should be treated differently but it is a day of rest. Take a breath and relax. The world will wait.

No boys in your room

That place is yours and yours only. Take advantage of that. Leave some things up to wonder.

Just small things like that, rules that caused so much stress and annoyances but that made a greater impact in my life then I ever knew they would.

My dad also took the time one day to take me aside and ask me about what I wanted in my life. 

I was in a relationship that he wasn't sure about.

There were things that bothered me but I had never voiced those concerns to him.

He somehow knew and became the answer to my prayer.

He got me to make a decision and live with it.

He reminded me what is important now and in the long run.

That even though it may sound great now, what would I miss out on later.

I was very appreciative about that.

As much as it scared me to be in a room just with my Dad, I will always remember this day.

Even though, I didn't get the advice the same way most kids do, with a sit down talking to or what comes off as a nagging parent to a teenager.

I still got some of the best advice from my parents.