To The World's Best Parents,

I wanted to write a quick thank you, but after 20 years, there's just too much to thank you for. It's impossible to explain all of the reasons why I am blessed with the greatest family I could ever have, but I'm going to try anyway.

1. Thank you for letting me make my own decisions.

Unlike many of my peers, I don't feel like I have to call home and ask permission for every little thing I want to do. You know that I am old enough and smart enough to make my own choices, but you still always pick up the phone when I can't figure things out on my own (or when I need help paying for it.)

2. Thank you for having high expectations.

Even though I could slack off if I wanted to, I am always busting my ass because you expect me to do my best at everything. There's no better feeling than being able to call home and brag about the grade I got on my test, or the latest project I'm working on outside of school. You know exactly what I'm capable of and you make sure that I know it too.

3. Thank you for being there when something goes wrong, too.

Even though I wish I got an "A+" on every test and succeeded at every new endeavor, sometimes I just fall short of those expectations. Even though you expect a lot out of me, you also realize that I'm not perfect. You're always there to tell me to get up and try again, when I just want to lay in bed and cry about the test I just bombed.

4. Thank you for treating my friends like they're family.

Everyone knows that they can come over to our house to take a nap, or text you when they need another "like" on their new selfie. They know that you will drive us into the city when we don't want to deal with the horrible parking and that you will go to the movies with us and buy us as much pizza and ice cream as we want on a Friday night.

5. Thank you for supporting me in everything I do.

When we talk about my goals, you don't doubt me. You know that I can do it, no matter what it is. To you, it's just a matter of time before I accomplish all of my goals and you're always there to help me when I need it. When I come home with a crazy new idea, you don't try to talk me out of it. Instead, you start brainstorming and figure out a way for me to make it work.

6. Thank you for sending me to my dream school.

My whole life I have gone to expensive, private schools. You know that HPU is my home and that I can't imagine life without it, just like Linsly was my home before. It doesn't matter how many hours you have to work a week to be able to afford it, you make it happen. You say that you want to give me the world, but you already have. Over and over again.

7. Thank you for being my best friends.

We gossip about boys, watch the latest TV shows, and go shopping together. Hanging out with you is something I look forward to, instead of something that I have to dread. You've gone to dozens of concerts with me; from The Summer Set, to Pitbull, and even Miley Cyrus, because it's just more fun when you're there. You know my style so well and you're always picking up little presents to surprise me with.

8. Thank you for treating me like your equal.

You let me call you by your first name and the tons of nicknames that I've made up for you over the years and you're always down to take goofy pictures with me. My opinion on where we eat for dinner or where we go on vacation counts just as much as yours does. I know that I can speak my mind without being chastised for it.

9. Thank you for putting me first.

You've dropped everything and driven 500 miles through the night just to make sure I was okay and you plan your schedules around what I have going on. It doesn't matter what the situation is, you always make sure that I come first.

10. Thank you for going to every single event of mine.

You sat through so many volleyball games to watch me play, even when I sucked and only spent three minutes on the court all night. You watched me cheer at so many basketball games, even though you hate basketball. You drove me and my friends home from away games so that we didn't have to ride on the bus. You knew to always mark the Linsly vs. Central games on your calendars, because it was a big deal to me. You went to choir concerts, school plays, and drove me to Extravaganza practice after Extravaganza practice. It didn't matter what it was, you were always there to support me, even when I wasn't very good at it.

11. Thank you for loving me unconditionally.

Sometimes, I'm a total idiot. We all know that, but I don't have to worry about disappointing you. You're always proud of me, even when I mess up.

Thanks for everything,

Your Eternally Greatful Daughter