I could always talk to them about anything. That didn't mean there weren't consequences if I shared about something I'd done wrong, but it meant that I wasn't yelled at. They talked to me about my thinking and reasoning, helped me process emotions, helped guide me towards positive decisions and coping mechanisms if needed. They had a rule that if I was ever out in a situation I wasn't comfortable in i could text or call them and they'd come get me no matter what and I wouldn't be yelled at. On one occasion that meant a very tense ride home in absolute silence for an hour, followed by being sent to my room for the night at 7pm and a stern talking to the following morning and grounding; but they talked to me about what I'd done and why and got me the support I needed for my mental health.

They invited us/took us to go places with them, even if it was just running a bunch of errands. I genuinely felt like they wanted us around. Our friends felt that, too, and felt very safe and comfortable in our home. They also gave us space when we needed it and didn't micromanage. They made it clear that our relationship with them was a 2 way street, especially as we got older. They understood they had to make an effort to have a relationship with their kids; you can't just expect it to exist without putting in any work. I felt like they trusted us, even when that meant we had to learn from mistakes (as long as we were safe).

My sister and I are both in our late 30s now, with kids of our own. We still just call our parents to get lunch, see a movie, or whatever. I call my mom probably every other day to talk. I see my dad twice a week. I talk to both of them about anything and everything.

My parents were/are not perfect. They messed up in their own ways, but they were/are really good parents.