When I got to college, I met a lot of people who barely call their parents. That was and still is, so weird to me.

I have friends who talk to them over the phone every now and again and only see them at the holidays. Here I am, age 22, a legal adult, and I'm just as close to my parents now as I was at age 10. I realize I am blessed to have not only two amazing parents but an amazing step-parent as well. Not everyone is as lucky as I have been with my family and I will never take it for granted.

Growing up I was always very close to my mom and I never imagined a time in my life where I wouldn’t be. Obviously, we have our moments the way every child and parent do. But at the end of every day, I can still say that in my twenties I am just as close to her now as I was when I was a little girl.

As you get older, you naturally want more independence but I came to realize that doesn’t mean I can’t still be close to my mom. I live on my own in an apartment, but I still call my mom almost every day to catch up. I find myself calling her to double check whether I wash lights on cold or hot, or to ask what ingredients I need to make her famous chili. Even though I can write my own checks and buy my own groceries, I still find myself needing (or more so wanting) my mom for some of the littlest things.

I know that no matter how bad I mess up, my mom will always be there to support me and she doesn’t allow me to lose sight of myself and my goals. It’s truly a blessing to a have an adult relationship with my mom.

While my mom has never been a question as far as if we would stay close as I age, my dad was another story. He and my sister always had a special bond growing up which worked out because I had that bond with my mom. When I was 9, my dad was diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma cancer. It was then that I realized how important it was to create a closer relationship with my dad also. I was blessed to have that too in the last few years of his life.

I wish I had the chance to be close to him as an adult, but I am happy that I was able to grow closer to him. I realized how special it is to be close to your parents. It was something I didn’t expect would impact me the way it did. I learned so much from him about humor, perseverance, courage, and truly living in the moment.

Aside from my two amazing parents, I have been blessed with the best stepdad. My mom and dad were divorced several years before my dad passed. My stepdad has been in my life since I was 12 years old. He has helped raised me and I am just as close to him as I am my mom and was to my dad. It is such a blessing to know I can call my stepdad just as quickly as I can call my mom. There are days where I just want to call them to say "hey" and some weekends I drive back from school to share a meal and enjoy their company.

The truth of the matter is, your parents teach you so much. My mom and dad were 35 when they adopted me, so they lived so much life when I was born. My mom has so much knowledge of life that I always call her for advice because she knows just what to say.

I realize how special it is to be an "adult" living my own life but still being so close to my parents. I know that when I get even older and start to have my own family, my parents will still be a huge part of my life and my family's lives.

I am so grateful for being raised but the strongest and most encouraging people I know. I am forever thankful for you and all you do, and I am proud to say that regardless of growing up, we don't grow apart.