Kids don’t remember a lot, but they do remember the times their parents showed up, and the times that they didn’t. No matter how big or small the event is, whether it is a middle-school graduation or a kindergarten talent show, if you don’t show up, they will know, and they will carry it with them for the rest of their life.

Sounds dramatic? That’s because it is. 

Kids are dramatic, and they need their parents to be there for them. There is no way around it, no shortcuts, no discounts. If you’re not there in times they need you, they will be affected by it.

If there is one thing I love to watch on TikTok, it is those videos of little kids looking for their parents before a performance; at first, they panic because they can’t find them, but then their tiny faces light up when they finally spot their family in the crowd. I always tear up, and then I promise myself that when I have kids of my own, I will always show up for them.