20 Tragically Unexpected Truths You Learn In Your Twenties

16. Your Parents Winged It

Yes they were the authority, but your parents didn't have to pass any kind of test to raise you. They were likely terrified by the thought of having to successfully (or unsuccessfully) raise another human being €” just like lots of us twenty-somethings are €” but they did it anyway. For better or for worse, if you're reading this your parents managed to keep you alive for those years when you would have died if they didn't. For that alone we should be thankful. Some of the stuff most parents teach is common knowledge; try hard at school, go to bed early, exercise - that kind of stuff. It's when you start getting into bad habits, maybe get into your first fight or go a little off the rails, that's when they were doubtful and just blindly trying for the best.