Disrespecting your parents.

Guilty. I spent a better part of my life doing everything mom and dad disapproved of, just for the hell of it. I started drinking and smoking at 15. I’ve been dying my hair since I was 11, which innocently started off with red streaks or a nice shade of brown, but quickly turned into “let’s see how many times Saori can dye her hair without killing it”… I always slept over a friend’s house on the weekends to get away from spending more time than needed with the parents. It was mostly Mom that I didn’t get along with. Dad didn’t talk much, so it was easy to get along with him. Mom, on the other hand, spent countless hours everyday bickering with me. She always had a problem with who I was hanging out with, where I was going, etc. It was mostly due to the fact 90% of my friends were always guys. If I had mentioned to mom that my stomach was hurting, her initial thought would be, “you’re pregnant, aren’t you?”. I mean, true, I lost my virginity at a young age… (too young, I won't even say how old I was. I am not proud of that). Also only two months after I started dating that guy. So yes, I rebelled, a lot. Everything my parents would disapprove, I did it. I got a fake ID when I was 17. Used it to get a tattoo spontaneously. I’ve taken mom’s car for joy rides, driven upstate with it without their consent or acknowledgement. I started experimenting with drugs when I was 17, freshman in college. I went on a road trip to Florida, only calling my parents when I was already in the car and hit Jersey, so there was no turning back. I started living with my at-the-time boyfriend when I was 18, keeping that a secret from the parents for over two and half years, until our recent breakup in October.

I will continue to do things my way, because that’s how I am. I refuse to let my parents’ beliefs and way of life stop me from living how I want to live. In the past, yes, I’ve disrespected my parents, countless times. I’ve had a bad relationship with them for years. Lately we’ve been getting along, mostly because they’re not on my case anymore. I’m not a bad kid. I just enjoy experiencing life. I drink, I smoke, I've experimented with other things, I’m getting a second tat in 20 days (which they’re against), I’ve slept around, etc. But, I do get good grades, I have an internship, I have a job, I’ve gotten promotions, I eat healthy, I work out, I’m not in debt… Yes, I do things my parents are against. And enjoy doing it. But their strict morals and old beliefs did help me with keeping my life straight, and not become a total fuck up.