Die hard "Scandal" fans know better than anyone that Rowan Pope, a.k.a. Eli Pope, a.k.a. Papa Pope, takes his role as a parent very seriously. Papa Pope was introduced in the season two finale and it didn’t take long for me to realize that he was very similar to my father and mother. Even though Rowan Pope commits murder and has multiple B6-13 agents at his disposal ready to kill at the drop of a dime, that still doesn’t stop him from helping his daughter comprehend the very complex and unforgiving world around her, much like our parents. While I’m pretty sure your relationship with your parents isn’t as dysfunctional as Olivia and Rowan’s, here are five times Papa Pope was your father (or mother):

5. When Papa Pope reminded Olivia that she always had to be on her game and then some

Rowan sternly reminds Olivia of the overbearing realities of racism that takes place in America.

“Did I not raise you better? How many times have I told you, you have to be what? You have to be what?” “Twice as good,” Olivia responds, in such a way that the audience realizes this is something that has been ingrained in her mind. “Twice as good to get half of what they have,” Rowan responds, completing a rant that most of us have heard before.

Growing up black in America, this is something that my parents told me quite often. They didn’t sugar coat it or beat around the bush, but they simply let me know that because of the color of my skin, I would always have to work harder than my white counterparts in order to get recognition or reap the benefits of my hard work.

4. When Papa Pope reminded Olivia that without him she wouldn't exist

“Could you be more ungrateful? You're my flesh. There would be no Olivia Pope if not for me.”

This is a modern twist on the classic saying, “I brought you in this world, and I’ll take you out.” While it’s cliché, it’s very necessary. As children, we do not understand the amount of hard work and sacrifice that it takes to raise a child, especially in today's day and age. Without our parents, we really wouldn't be where we are today. They've taught us the necessities of life, and they've put us through college. So, when we do not live up to certain expectations and when we don't take advantage of what the opportunities that they have afforded us, it can come off as if we don't appreciate their efforts, but parents are quick to remind us of the things they've done and will always do for us. Thus, "there would be no *insert name here* if not for me."

3. When Papa Pope showed Olivia who was boss

“You do not disrespect me. Ever. You understand? Can I make that any clearer? I’m the one that protects the republic. I’m the one that protects you. Everything I do serves that purpose. I have spent a lifetime keeping you safe from harm, a lifetime worrying about your feet, a lifetime making sure that the path in front of you was clear of debris.”

This one is pretty self-explanatory. Most parents do not tolerate disrespect simply because they provide you with clothing, food and shelter, take care of you when you're sick, counsel you, nurture you and pretty much do everything in their power to make sure you have all that you could ever need or want in life. So whenever you think about disrespecting your parents, (even if they are malicious, cold-blooded, CIA killers) stop and think about where you would be if it weren't for their constant care.

2. When Papa Pope reminded Olivia that he'd always be there for her

"I am still your father and I will be here for you long after these boys reveal themselves to be who they really are. I will be here to pick up the pieces to out you back together and remind you of who you really are."

Growing up, we tend to defy our parents. Especially when it comes to relationships with people that probably won't matter 10 years or even one year from now. Parents can see through friendships that are faulty and aren't genuine long before we can. Parents can spot a significant other and detect their intentions as if they have the power to read minds and see into the future. But us kids, we usually don't listen. And we usually get hurt. And because our parents are loving and understanding, while they are cleaning up the pieces of our broken hearts and wiping away our tears, they may even resist from saying, "I told you so."

1. When Papa Pope reminds Olivia that (deep down) he's only human

“I want you to know that I've always wanted the best for you. I've wanted you to be the best because to me you always were. I got angry when I shouldn't have and I focused too much on how you did rather than how you were doing it. I didn't say enough how important it was to me when you were trying, when you were struggling. Because it was. Because I should've understood because that's what I was doing. Trying. And struggling. I tried. I just wanted you to be happy. That's all I ever wanted.”

No child-parent relationship is perfect. We fight with our parents. We get mad at our parents. We wonder why they don't understand us. After years of not believing that our parents actually do know what they're talking about, we can come to the realization that they only want what's best for us. They want to see us thrive and they want to see us happy. As a child, and even as a teenager, I never understood my parent's motives behind their decisions, but now that I'm older, more mature, and much wiser *insert smirking face emoji*, I can wholeheartedly say that I understand my parents so much more. Maybe it's because I've gotten a glimpse into the real world or maybe it's because the nature of my relationship with them is beginning to shift, but I get them now. I understand that no matter what, my parents wanted me to be happy. It may not have felt like they wanted me to be happy because I was being taught how to have discipline, but I am able to understand how it was necessary for me to grow. I now understand that my parents were allowed to make mistakes as parents and that they were just as afraid to let me down as I was to let them down. I now understand that if nothing else, they wanted me to know that they tried their best to make sure I became everything I dreamed I could be.