If you recognize these 10 signs as an adult, you grew up with genuinely loving parents

Did your parents show you lots of love and care?

Two people sit on the grass with a soccer ball beside them, smiling and talking. One person wears a light blue shirt and jeans, the other wears a peach shirt and shorts. They appear relaxed, enjoying a sunny day outdoors with trees in the background.

A loving home and family are all anyone could really ask for growing up. Not everyone is so lucky. Now that you’re an adult, you may find that many of your traits and qualities come from the love and care shown to you by your parents. Do you recognize the following signs?

1. You are open-minded and curious about people.

Two men are standing in a well-lit room, smiling at each other while holding beer bottles. One wears a blue shirt and sunglasses, the other an orange shirt. A large window and a potted plant are in the background.

Loving parents will encourage empathy and understanding. They may not know all there is to know about other people, but they encourage their children to be accepting of people’s differences. Good parents recognize that their children need to be prepared to face a multi-cultured world filled with all kinds of different people. The only way you can do that is by being open-minded and curious about those you encounter.

2. You have empathy and compassion.

Two people are sitting close on the floor, with one person comforting the other. One has their head bowed and is being comforted by the other who has a hand on their back. The scene conveys empathy and support. Both individuals are casually dressed.

Empathy and compassion help you meaningfully connect with others. Parents who encourage empathy empower their children to better understand the struggles of others who may not be as fortunate as they are or who are going through hard times. That leads to compassion which drives us to want to make things better, want to make things right for people who are suffering or afraid. Furthermore, you are able to develop healthier, better relationships by having these abilities.

3. You practice healthy independence.

A woman with long blonde hair wearing sunglasses and a striped shirt stands confidently outdoors. She has one hand in the pocket of her blue jeans. In the background, there is a modern building with large windows and a patio area. The sky is partly cloudy.

There is such a thing as unhealthy independence. Unhealthy independence is developed due to childhood trauma because the child learns they cannot depend on their parents, so who can they depend on? It causes some people to never ask for help, ever. On the other hand, helicopter parenting can cause a child to grow up dependent on others to get anything done. Healthy independence allows you to make good decisions about your life path, relationships, and goals in life.

4. You are an emotionally secure person.

Smiling woman with long blonde hair wearing a light blue shirt stands in front of a brick wall. The background is softly blurred, highlighting her cheerful expression.

Healthy parents nurture your ability to express emotions by hearing and accepting them. In turn, the child learns that their emotions matter, and they won’t be dismissed or ridiculed if they speak up. An emotionally secure person doesn’t need much external validation of their emotions because they already know that their feelings are valid. Furthermore, they tend to be more accepting of others’ feelings.

5. You have a strong sense of self-esteem and self-worth.

A man with short, curly brown hair and a beard is smiling broadly at the camera. He is wearing a pink knitted sweater and standing in front of a dark, blurred background.

Every person is unique. Good parents will nurture that uniqueness so you can feel comfortable in your skin. Healthy self-esteem allows you to accept yourself for who you are, warts and all, without tearing yourself down. Furthermore, when you make mistakes or experience failures as you grow, you understand that it’s just a part of life instead of a condemnation of you as a person or your character.

6. You set and enforce healthy boundaries.

A man in a white t-shirt extends his hand toward the camera, palm facing forward, in a stop gesture. The background is softly blurred, emphasizing the hand's detail.

Healthy boundaries are an essential component of any good relationship. Everyone has needs and limits which you communicate through boundaries. Good parents will encourage you to have personal boundaries so that you understand that your comfort and well-being matter. Anyone who genuinely loves and cares about you will want you to feel safe and secure with them.

7. You are comfortable giving and receiving healthy love.

A woman with dark hair and tattoos on her hand smiles warmly while hugging a man in a beige suit. They are outdoors on a rooftop with a view of buildings in the background. The woman has light-colored nails and is wearing a golden ring.

Love can be difficult for people with an unhealthy background. A person’s childhood relationship with their adults formulates their attachment style, which is how they form relationships. Love should be a comfortable thing, but some people struggle to give it or receive it because they were never taught how. Most people learn that by the way they are treated by their parents for better or worse.

8. You have a strong sense of resilience in the face of adversity.

A man with a beard and short hair stands outdoors in front of lush green foliage, wearing a green t-shirt. He looks directly at the camera with a neutral expression.

Resilience is the single most important quality in the pursuit of success. It’s only by sheer luck that any plan goes smoothly from start to finish. We all experience setbacks, and when those setbacks come, we have to be willing to buckle down and get through them. Good parents allow their children to suffer setbacks without saving them whenever they have a hard time. Experiencing hardship with loving parents around makes it easier to learn when they are on their own.

9. You have a healthy relationship with authority.

Four individuals are engaged in a lively conversation around a table in a modern office setting. Three of them sit while one stands, smiling and leaning forward. They have papers and coffee cups on the table. The background features large windows and glass walls.

Like it or not, we all have to coexist in society by accepting healthy authority. Bosses, police, and laws are all authorities that you must deal with sooner or later. When you grow up with loving parents—who are the de facto authority when you are young—you learn to respect authority and abide by the rules laid out for you. Yet, a healthy relationship with authority does not mean blind obedience. Instead, it means obedience but a willingness to speak out and stand up for justice when it’s needed. Sometimes we need to challenge or question authority, respectfully, if we feel that something is wrong.

10. You have fond memories of childhood.

A woman with long brown hair, wearing a flowery shirt, is sitting outdoors in soft sunlight. She is holding a takeaway coffee cup with both hands and looking thoughtfully into the distance, with a slight smile on her face.

A person who grew up with good, loving parents will have fond memories of their childhood. There really is no better measure of whether or not you had good parents. Whatever those memories may be, they are likely full of experiences and love with family and friends. These bonds are the way family wisdom, traditions, and habits are passed down from one generation to the next. Your childhood may not have been easy, not everyone is so fortunate, but love and kindness don’t cost anything.