When I was growing up, my parents were strict. Home after school, except if I had practices or tutoring. My mom freaked out when I didn’t pick up her call. Other times I didn’t answer her calls, she called my friends. My dad drove outside my friend’s house to check on us. My parents picked me up from a friend’s house or at school if I stayed later than 5 p.m. I had to call either of them once I get home from school or wherever I went. I had curfews. I used to find it annoying, but now I’m more than grateful that they were strict. Their strictness helped me in becoming the person I am today.

I didn’t have to deal with teenage drama.

I didn’t have my first boyfriend until I started college. My parents were strict — but to an extent. They didn’t exactly say that I cannot start dating until a certain age. Growing up with strict parents, the majority of my jokes didn’t land well. I attempted to say a few jokes when I was in high school, but my parents turned jokes to lectures. My parents used to always tell me not to chase someone who doesn’t want me because at the right time, the right person will come and that person is someone who has plans for his future just like me. I watched my friends go through a lot of high school dramas with their boyfriends and whatnots. None bothered me at all because in my mind were my parents’ words, which happened to be true because now I am with the most loving man I ever saw.

I learned to appreciate family times.

Because my parents were strict, if they said I should go to visit my grandma or go to a relative’s birthday, there’s pretty much nothing that I can do to not to go. Except of course if I have assignments, major projects or tests coming up. I used to be annoyed at first, but now I realized that this made me a family person. I became closer to my other relatives and more aware of what’s happening. This also introduced me to relatives I never knew existed such as the son of my father’s cousin’s uncle’s mother or that one friend from high school who happened to be a relative from my father’s side. Because my parents “forced” me to go to family events, I became closer to my family and learned to value each time I spent with them. I have memories that I will always treasure instead of no memories of getting wasted.

I got better in making decisions.

Having strict parents mean you can only go out a couple weekends within a month. For me, I have to decide if I’m going to that dance competition with a couple of my friends or if I should hang out with my girlfriends. I had to plan ahead together with who am I going with, where we’re going, what time we’re leaving, what time we’re getting home, and how we’re going to get there and get home. Strict parents also mean cracking the code of “ask your mom” when you ask your dad if you can go out and “ask your dad” when you ask your mom. Are my parents going to get mad if I go out this weekend or the next weekend? What will they say? I had a lot of things to consider.

I became slick and sneaky.

Movie day with friends but you know your parents will say no? No problem, I had it perfectly planned. Strict parents make the sneakiest children. Whenever I was faced with this situation, I made sure my friends knew the plan. We will “do a group project at a friend’s house” AKA going to watch movies and hang out. Friends had to know so they knew what to do in case my dad decides to visit. (Sorry, mom and dad! Sometimes, we actually do group projects.)

I learned to work hard.

When I was younger, I got everything I needed, but not what I wanted. I always had to identify if something is a necessity or a luxury. If I wanted, for example, new clothes, I had to wait until the holidays or my birthday. Otherwise, I had to work hard such as getting a good grade or help in the house (which I rarely do. I was a lazy kid, #tbh). But now, as I look back at it, this made me work hard for something that I want.

Be grateful for having strict parents. You will learn a lot from them. You’ll miss it soon when you grow up!