Striving for the Best: Ben and Wanda are a couple who never settle for less, and who are always there for each other and others.

For some kids, their mom and dad are like superheroes. They are the do-it-all parents who are always there for them, and they exude strength, courage and love.

For Tanner, Nick and Braeden, their parents are no different. They look up to them and know how special they are, and appreciate them above all else.

“My dad is the real underdog,” Braeden and Nick said. “He didn’t come from much, but with the love and support from our mom, they both achieved a happy life.”

In fact, Ben and Wanda started a company together that became successful enough to where they sold the original one and have created branches elsewhere. Their company, Respiratory Home Care Solutions, turned into Maple Respiratory Group, and it is only successful because of Ben and Wanda’s hard work.

Through the starting of their business, Ben and Wanda found something to strive toward. As Wanda was raising their three boys, along with their nieces and nephews, Ben was pouring long hours into their business.

And yet, that only just skims the surface of Ben and Wanda. They are a wonderful couple who love each other and who have a shared heart for people.

“They’re super caring for one,” Tanner said. “That is a big part of them.”

Selflessness is something that comes naturally to Ben and Wanda. They love with all their hearts and would do anything for anyone. In fact, when these two high school sweethearts were mere teenagers, they took in their niece and nephews and provided them with a happy place to be and showed them what it meant to be loved. They would follow suit later in raising them, showing just how much family means.

One thing that stood out for Tanner about his parents, is their ability to understand and do everything possible they could, to give them the best life. The boys now reap what their parents have sown. 

For Ben and Wanda, they realize everyone goes through things. They are not quick to judge, and they are always there to help. From forgiving their kids’ friends for crossing boundaries, to always being there for their siblings after abusing their trust, Ben and Wanda always had great understanding and hope for the future. 

They also bring out the best in everyone. They want everyone around them to have the best lives possible, and they ensure this, day in and day out, just by being who they are. They do this by leading by example in their everyday lives.

This is apparent in their constant efforts to live a healthy lifestyle, not just physically, but mentally as well. This includes a balanced diet and sit down talks even though not always appreciated in the moment.

Ben and Wanda have so many other tremendous qualities too, and they are all qualities their sons appreciate and admire about them.

“They are supportive, loving, caring, understanding, show how hard work pays off, show us what love really is, lead by example, and have integrity,” Braeden said.

On top of always being there for people, Ben and Wanda are not afraid to put their heads down and grind. Their work ethic is as great as two people’s work ethic comes, and they walk the walk. They do not just talk the talk, and even more so, they are morally sound people.

Tanner, Nick and Braeden all see their parents as role models who they have learned so much from. This includes sticking to your guns, even when faced with adversity.

“They always focused on being good people,” Tanner said. “It’s hard to pick one thing they did extraordinarily well. They taught us to be kind people. Be generous and understanding. General traits such as caring and understanding. Lead by example. They instilled a strong work ethic and that you get what you earn in this world.”

Don’t expect things in life to be handed to you. That is one of the most important things Ben and Wanda have taught their children.

In their younger years, Ben was selling vacuums out of the back of his pick-up truck in order to survive, and even when faced with this misfortune, they always had a greater foresight for their future family and became a prime example of what it means to fight for what you believe in. 

They have also shown their sons what hard work and dedication looks like, and for that they are much better off. Over the years, Ben has gone from selling vacuums to leading a multinational organization, none of which would have been possible without the love and support of Wanda.

Of course, when you ask the boys to put how much their parents mean to them into words, it’s no easy task. Ben and Wanda mean everything to them and taught them everything they know, and they appreciate them so much. “They mean more than words can describe,” Nick said. “We just want something for them to let them know how much we love them, even if it only shows a fraction of how we really feel.”

Words can only do so much justice, but Ben and Wanda should know how much their boys really do love them. They are grateful for the childhood they had growing up, and they are thankful they can call upon their parents to be there even in their current young adult years.

They also admire how wonderful their parents are together. They know Ben and Wanda are right for each other, and they appreciate how well they treat one another.

“They have always seemed like true soulmates,” Tanner said. “They are madly in love with each other. They always show they care about each other. Life might get busy, but they sit and talk every day.”

Nearly every night, Ben and Wanda sit down and play a round of crib together. The boys are not sure exactly how long this particular game has been going on, but even something as seemingly simple as this shows how dedicated they are to each other. And the ongoing crib matches can be added to the book of memories, just like many other moments the boys remember with their parents.

“I’ll never forget laying down and watching the meteor shower with them,” Nick stated.

“Them traveling with me around the country for baseball was a great memory,” Braeden added.

There are countless memories that would take way too long to name, but that is just because of how special Ben and Wanda are. They have spent a lifetime together turning moments into unforgettable memories, and that speaks volumes about their relationship.

And what speaks even more about them as a whole is how much their boys look up to them. Their sons have nothing but good things to say about their parents, and do their best to walk in their footsteps. 

“We want to let them know how much they mean to us and how much we love them. We wouldn’t be here without them. We want them to know they are doing a bang-up job.” – Tanner

“We are great-full for everything they taught us, always having a home for us, and unconditional love. They strive to make them and everyone else around them better people. They are always finding the positives in life.” – Braeden & Nick