My Life’s Fantasy

A Vision of Perfection

Wednesday’s Prompt: How many of the people I fantasize about already exist in some form in my present reality?

fantasy parents a vision of perfection but that doesn’t exist.

As a child and teenager, I fantasized about having the “perfect” parents. What does that even mean? Parents who earned more money? Parents who were college educated? Parents who were fun and had game nights? Parents who were proud of all my accomplishments? Parents who owned a nicer car or a bigger house? Parents who took more vacations? Is that what I envisioned? Yes.

What I was blessed with were parents who worked hard and were able to afford the monthly expenses of the private school I attended. Parents who did not have a college education, but valued education and understood that my education was important to my success. Parents who guaranteed that I spent summers and weekends with my cousins when they were busy with regular life.

Parents who bragged to their coworkers and friends about the honors I received while I was in school. Parents who made sure that I traveled safely around the city. Parents who provided a safe and warm place to sleep peacefully at night. Parents who were able to afford the expenses of the vacations I took with my extended family when they weren’t able to get the time off work.

So, in reality, I had the “perfect” parents, but in my eyes, they were not what I envisioned them to be. Did they make mistakes? Absolutely they did, but those mistakes were based on their level of understanding. Therefore, I understand now that they were all that I needed in my life. They were and still are unequivocally my “perfect” parents. They loved and cared for me the best way that they could, and I will be forever grateful because they are the manifestation of my fantasies — my reality.

Growing up, I fantasized about having a different life experience with my parents based on preconceived ideas. What I failed to realize was that what I sometimes fantasized about I already possessed, I just needed to open my eyes and see. So, in actuality, my fantasies were the perfectly imperfect parts of my reality. I just needed to embrace, love, and be grateful for what was afforded to me.

I fantasized about perfection not understanding that it was unattainable, and now with my new level of understanding, I have removed those fantasies and have accepted my reality. I do not have perfect parents, but they are “perfect” enough for me. Love you Mom, love you Dad…and thank you for the life that you gave me.

This was written in response to Diana C.’s Wednesday Prompt:

Thank you all for reading. And thank you Diana C. for creating the space so that we all can revisit stages in our lives, tell our stories, grow, and heal. KTHT has been a rollercoaster, one that I don’t mind riding.