Sometimes the people we hold closest are the last ones to get recognized for what they do. Here are only some of the many reasons you should call and thank your parents right now:

1. They work their butts off to give you a good life

There is no one in the world who works harder than parents do for their kids. Some parents work multiple jobs, give up hobbies and dream vacations, or do whatever they can to make sure their kids have food on the table and a place to sleep. At the end of the day, parents go above and beyond, even though we’re sometimes unappreciative and forget their sacrifices.

2. They are always your number one fans

Even if you are the only girl in your dance recital doing totally different choreography, or tripping over your own feet and walking into a flag pole, they’ll still be proud of you.

3. No matter what time you call, they’ll always pick up

Whether it’s three in the afternoon and walking back from class or four in the morning and we’re crying because we don’t feel good...they’ll always pick up and be ready to listen.

4. At least one of them can usually cook an amazing meal

The first thing many of us want to do when we get home from college is raid the fridge. There’s nothing better than coming home to fresh chicken cutlets, or whatever one of your parent's specialty is (and they'll always make sure you eat it).

5. They’ll always push you to be the absolute best version of yourself

and will call you out when you’re not reaching your full potential (and we can all recall a time where we rolled our eyes and just let them talk but we knew they were actually right).

6. They’ll help you pick up the pieces when life feels like it’s too much to handle

When the going gets tough and you don’t know how you’re going to stay up those extra few hours and study for that last final, your parents will always remind you that the sun will come out tomorrow and it’ll all be okay.

7. They’ll be brutally honest with you, even when you might not want to hear it

Like maybe you shouldn’t be finishing that entire sleeve of Oreos when you have a wedding next weekend.

8. Will constantly break out the pictures of when you were in middle school and remind you of you awkward stages

and this will, in turn, make you appreciate that that brutally awful period of life is over and that you have moved on to bigger and better things

9. They brought you into this world

You can’t deny the truth that without them, you literally would not be a thing...which they’ve probably said at some point amidst your hormonal teenage rampages.

10. No matter how much you screw up, they’ll love you unconditionally

Despite all of the times, you roll your eyes, slam the door or stay out past your curfew, at the end of the day they love you more than you’ll ever understand.

Thanks, Mom and Dad