Growing up, your parents seemed unshakable, like permanent fixtures in your life. But in your twenties, you start to see the cracks-not in a way that diminishes them, but in a way that humanizes them. You notice their fears, their sacrifices, their dreams left behind. You realize they've been improvising, just like you are now. That understanding deepens your gratitude, even if it also brings a bittersweet awareness that they won't be here forever. You start asking more questions, listening more carefully. And in doing so, you build a relationship that's no longer just about guidance, but about mutual respect.