Influential People in My Life – My Parents

I am coming towards the end of my life of truly influential people in my life. I have been saving the most important ones for the last ones. 

And so today I present you with my parents.

If there are 2 words that I would say sums them up it would be “love and care”. As you will read, those words come up a lot as I write about them and how they influenced me.

I have known them my whole life. There is so much to say about them, and I am sure I won’t get it all in this writing, but I am going to just see how it goes.

As parents they have been amazing. My entire life they have always been there for me. They have raised me to be a person who loves God and loves and respects others. I can’t remember a time when church/God wasn’t important in our family. My parents have always been involved at the church in one way or another. I can’t remember a time when we took time off from church. We never missed it. They made sure I was involved as well. During those difficult time of jr. high when I didn’t want to go to church they made me go, but not in a mean way. They just didn’t let me not go. That was a good thing. I grew to understand the importance of being a part of a community of believers from that. It helps foster friendships, and I was able to learn from my leaders during very important developmental times of my life. And it helps me make friends as well. My parents have always demonstrated the value of people as well. I can’t remember my parents ever talking down about people or a person. They always treated others with respect. They say, “hello” and “thank you” to people wherever they go. That is something I have learned to do from them. It is important to let those around us know they are seen and respected no matter who they are or what they are doing. 

 They have taught me the importance of education. As teachers my parents clearly knew the importance of education, but they showed us the importance of it by helping me do the best I could in school, but not overstepping. They weren’t in my business, and didn’t push me to be the best. They wanted me to enjoy my education, and to do the best I could. I never remember missing school for vacation reasons or “just because”. My parents only let us miss school if we were sick. I think that is something that many parents today don’t do. I hear about kids missing school all the time for all kinds of random reasons that make me wonder what value those parents are putting on education. Oh well, I digress. Whenever I needed help during my schooling my parents were there. I remember my mom reading and editing ALL my papers from the first all the way through college. My dad helped me in woodshop class one year. And both were always ready to help with any questions I had regarding whatever material I was struggling with. 

My parents were never over protective and I really appreciate that. I think they showed me respect, and I have taken that and I try my best to apply that to my kids now. They showed me that my decisions were my decisions, sometimes they were good ones and sometimes they weren’t. But my parents allowed me to make those choices. They certainly didn’t say yes to everything I wanted to do. But they didn’t try to control that much either. I believe that made life more joyful as a kid, and I think it played a major factor in my emotional life as it is now. I am a rather relaxed person and I think that comes from the examples my parents were to me and how they treated me as a kid.

My mom is a great mom. She took care of me growing up. She made sure I was ready for school in the morning, and was there when I got home from school. She taught me the importance of reading (she is always reading). I may not be a big reader, but I learned to read from her. She is full of love, and makes sure I know that I am loved. I think to this day she always says, “I love you” when we are either on the phone or when she is leaving if we have been together. My mom has always been a great example of being a good teacher. When I was working at CGCC when she was also there I can’t count the number of times I had students say something along the lines of, “Wait your mom is Mrs. Canham? She was a great math teacher.” She made am impact on her students just like she made an impact on me.

My dad is a great dad. He has taught me so much about so many things. He taught me how to drive. I learned to drive a manual transmission and still drive my first car. It was formerly my parents car, and he helped me get it back up and running when I was 16. My dad allowed me to work for his business starting when I was 15. Over the next 20 years he taught me things like how to use a table saw, router, jointer, drill press, sanders, and more. It was a great learning experience on how to use wood working equipment. I also learned how to assemble cameras that he designed. I spent hours doing that over th years. My dad taught me what it means to be a dad that cares. My dad was firm with me at times growing up, but at the same time gave me latitude too. He always treated me with respect. I have always known that he loves me. My dad has always been there when I have needed help. When I was in college and my car broke down between Phoenix and Tucson he would always come and tow me home. Or if I had a house question or car question he is always there to help think through ideas on how to fix them. It is reassuring in my current time of transition that I will be able to still call and get help if I need it. My dad took me to Germany on business trips for years so I could learn the business more. I was also there to help out, but it was a great learning time. And then working for my dad once I was out of college we would sit and talk about all kinds of stuff. It was something we didn’t do when I was younger, but it was great to talk as adults about life, politics, business, cars, and so many other things. He was always there to listen. Again something I learned from both my parents (even though I am not always good at doing it myself).

My parents taught me what it means to love their spouse. I remember my parents being affectionate towards each other growing up. I am sure I was “grossed out” some as a kid, but I knew my parents loved each other because of that. As I got older, and now as an adult I realize how important that is. Hearing “I love you” is so important. And then seeing it in hugs and kisses between my parents as well has impressed that into me and I have tried to do the same. I am not always successful at times, but I have gotten that from them. That is an important lasting trait I have been instilled with. 

They have shown love to my wife and my kids. They tell me how they pray from them all the time. They ask questions about how they are doing every time I talk with them. Again showing me what it means to love and care about others.

And now with this transition of moving to Idaho they have been super supportive. I know they are very sad, and would prefer that we didn’t move, but they have been nothing but supportive. They have prayed for us. They have been willing to help us if we need it in any way that they can. Again it goes back to them being here for me and my family and loving on us. It is still showing me the love of God that I know is in them to this day. I am so incredibly blessed to have my parents.