You were young once, and you probably thought you knew everything. The only thing stopping you from conquering the world with your brilliance were those pesky parents of yours — or so you thought. Here are 23 pieces of parental advice that you really should have listened to. 

1. You'll regret that tattoo. 

In hindsight, it shouldn't have taken your parents to tell you that 'tramp stamps' wouldn't be cool forever. 

2. ... And that belly button ring. 

Did you really think you'd be rocking that thing on your 35th birthday? What was your end game?

3. You need to learn how to change a tire. 

You shrugged this off and thought there would always be a handsome, muscular man available to save the day whenever you needed him to. But sometimes you just have to roll up your sleeves and get the job done on your own. 

4. ... And drive a stick shift.

All was well until you wanted to rent a car on your Italian vacation and had to pay through the nose for a rare European luxury known as ... the automatic car. 

5. ... And cook. 

TV dinners were fine when you were in college, but there comes a day when man cannot live on frozen foods alone. Hopefully, you at least knew how to boil spaghetti by the time you had this revelation. 

6. You'll regret blowing all your money. 

You thought savings were for nerds, but now you wish you could go back to your early 20s and invest in something other than cute clothes and cocktails. 

7. That guy/girl is no good for you. 

Love is blind, so you didn't listen. Then they broke your heart. 

8. Wear sunscreen. 

You went to the tanning bed, lathered baby oil on yourself while sunbathing, and shunned anything with an SPF. You fool. 

9. Don't quit.

Fill in the blank with whatever is relevant to you. Did you quit piano lessons? Or say goodbye to those ice skating lessons that your parents paid a fortune for? Did you play soccer for one season before turning to gymnastics, then ballet, then swim team? You only become good at something when you stick with it. You know that now. 

10. Hard work builds character.

It was hard to understand this at the time, but now you're thankful for everything you learned during that summer spent slinging burgers.

11. Be kind to your siblings. 

You were too hard on them when you were kids. Now you realize they're actually pretty cool and the people least likely to let you down. 

12. Don't sweat the small stuff. 

Why did you worry so much about things that didn't matter? Now you're grown up with real worries and wish you could go back to the days when your biggest concern was whether Dawson and Joey would end up together. 

13. You'll laugh about this one day. 

You were mortified when your parents took that embarrassing picture of you with frizzy hair and braces, but now you think it's a hilarious (yet still cringeworthy) moment in history. 

14. There is life after high school. 

There really was. And it was way better than you ever imagined. 

15. You need to study more. 

It turns out non-stop partying and drinking in college really doesn't do anything to advance your career prospects. 

16. Those sodas and Kit Kats will catch up to you. 

Teenage metabolism doesn't last forever. Enough said. 

17. Time goes faster when you get older.

Remember when waiting one week for something seemed like an eternity? Now a year passes in the blink of an eye. 

18. Find someone who loves you for who you really are.

... Because pretending to be someone you aren't is exhausting, and everyone will eventually see through you anyway.

Note to self: Never pretend to like golf for a guy ever again. 

19. Reading isn't just for nerds.

You used to cringe at the idea of reading for fun, but now your favorite thing to do is curl up with a cup of coffee and a good book.

20. Forgive and forget.

Holding a grudge just makes everyone miserable — and now that you're older, you know that everyone deserves forgiveness.

21. Appreciate the small things. 

The older you get, the more you realize the beauty in everyday moments. 

22. Good things come to those who wait. 

You used to be incredibly impatient, but now you realize that things happen when they're supposed to — and you're happy to wait for the right time. 

23. Be thankful for what you have. 

It used to be easy to get jealous if your friend made more money or drove a nicer car, but now you're old enough to value what really matters — health, family, and friends.