Have your parents ever cut you off before? And it was a harsh sting and slap to the face reality check? You were salty as f*ck and made sure that, from this point forward, you were going to be this independent Man(or Woman) and need nothing else from your parents again? Yeah, I’m sure that has happened a couple times one way or another.

Thanks for cutting me off…Mom. 7 years ago. January 2011. Feels like it’s been longer but, I remember this moment like it was yesterday(ironic huh?). It was right before the spring semester of my junior year in college. I was enrolling in my spring classes and I got to the part where it was time to enter payment info. So, just like every other semester when I select my classes and I’m ready to to pay, I get my payment info….Mom! “Hey Mom, I finished selecting my classes for next semester, which card are you going to use to pay?” *SMACK!*. Let me explain that smack part… I didn’t actually get smacked. Although it felt like it, and I probably should have for how I approached my Mom to use her credit card :D. But, that smack was a BIG SLAP in the FACE REALITY CHECK. My lovely mother, oh lovely mother, told me that she wasn’t going to pay for school this semester. “What..” “Umm…why not?..” Throughout my college years, my Mom has been either paying cash or credit card for my tuition. The past couple times have been credit card. “I have been putting your tuition on my credit cards, and this time, I’m not doing it”. “Figure out a way to pay for school”. This was such a shock to me. I didn’t imagine this scenario ever being possible, where my Mom would tell me “No”. She cut me the f*ck off.

Believe it or not, I had mixed feelings about it. Even though I was stung by the fact that I got rejected, cut off, abandoned, kicked to the curb, slic–. I think you get the point. Despite all those feelings, it was a bit of a relief… “I don’t have to go to school!” *Ceeeeeelebrrrrraaaaaate GOOD TIMES, COME ON!”. Dun-ne, dun-ne, dun, dun, dun, dun, Whoo HOO! “I’m free!”. I told my Mom I would take the semester off(like I had a choice), and work until I got enough money to go back. I had no idea at the time that this was going to propel me into the next chapter in my life. Responsibility.

From that point on, I felt more responsible for my destiny. There was a lot of uncertainty, but I had no choice but to let things unfold along the journey. I ended up saving enough money and attending the Fall 2011 semester. But this time was different. I used a different bank account. Mine. Man does it feel so good to earn your own money and have the freedom to choose how to spend it. But when that $2,500 charge hit my bank account…I was gasping for air. That was another taste of adulthood. And it was a bitter taste!

First day of school came around and I walked into class, feeling weird. I felt the same, but I knew something was different. It didn’t hit me until after class. Holy SHIT! I not only chose to be here, but I just spent a shit ton of money to do it. I’m definitely paying close attention next class and doing all my homework! That ended up being my best academic semester, LMAO. Not kidding, I finished with a 3.6 GPA. The grade alone wasn’t the best feeling though. Taking that step as a man, making that decision and investing in myself was an incredible feeling.

So THANK YOU MOM! For cutting me off. Although I didn’t want it at the time, it was exactly what I needed.

Your #1(and only) Son,

Love, Patrick