Parents are always important, but not always for the right reasons. Parents are supposed to be role models for their children. Most of the time they’re great role models. Other times they’re perfect examples of what to never act like. An active Bangor mother had to grow up with a parent who, sadly, was an example of how to never act. She is a great example of how growing up with an unsupportive parent, but turn it into a great thing. She is an example of how, sometimes, the best things in life come from the worst experiences.

This mother’s struggles started young. She was born in Illinois and moved to Michigan when she was five. She went to Bloomingdale for a few years before moving to Bangor until she graduated. She essentially always had family struggles. She had an unsupportive mother and never met her father. Because of the little to no support from her mother she ended up with some issues that she still struggles with today. She had low self-confidence as well as trust issues. It got to the point where she did not want to be home or with her family. In fact, she avoided going home as much as possible. Some may think growing up unsupported she would’ve turned out unhappy. She wasn’t happy when she was young. But her struggles made her a better person. They made her stronger and more independent and brave. She wouldn’t change a thing, that is except meeting her father before he had died when she was only two years old. This is the one thing she’d change because she wonders if anything would be different today or would’ve happened differently in the past.

Since this particular Bangor mother grew up with an unsupportive family she is used to doing everything herself. Her past struggles have shaped her present-day life a lot, especially with her own family. She often has trouble asking for and receiving help. Her family set an example of what not to be. She also learned how a parent should never act. As she grew older, her situation started to help her figure out what she wanted for herself. She eventually began getting the things she needed to. Especially after meeting her now-husband in highschool. He and his family showed her what love is. They showed her everything she wanted in a family.

She truly is an example of how sometimes the things we view as the worst things in life, can really help make the best happen. She had many struggles with herself because of her family. She no longer talks to most of them. She’s never really healed from her past. The memories of it are always in the back of her mind.  But it’s only when she thinks about it that she can’t stop thinking about it. About the struggles of little to no support. About the little to no love, she received as a child. Through all of it she never really knew how to act. She never really knew how to be or act happy because of all the negativity she faced at home.

But now she has a loving family of her own and a great job. So many people go through similar struggles. And most, like her, think or thought they are or were alone. But if you look closer, you’ll realize you’re not as alone as you think. So keep your head held high. Remember some want you to fail. So show them you can’t be beat.