My parent’s anniversary is coming up and I wanted to write an article dedicated to them. I have asked some of my friends what their parents should be thanked for and I compiled it into a list along with what I want to thank my own parents for.

To my parents, Sue and Jeff Klauder, I hope you have a great anniversary. You both mean so much to me and I don’t know where I would be without your love and support. I know I don’t say thank you as much as I should. I want you to know how much I appreciate you and don’t take you for granted. I hope after reading this list you will see all you do for me and my brothers and how thankful we are.

1. Thank you for putting up with my unnecessary attitude.

2. Thank you for providing me with everything I need and more.

3. Thank you for always being there for me, no matter what.

4. Thank you for loving me unconditionally.

5. Thank you for cooking dinner.

6. Thank you for always believing in me.

7. Thank you for paying for college.

8. Thank you for making dad jokes.

9. Thank you for sacrificing things for me to be able to do what I want.

10. Thank you for making the separated parent lifestyle easier to handle, especially when moving to college.

11. Thank you for giving me many childhood memories.

12. Thank you in advance for the ones to come.

13. Thank you for dealing with me even when I make it difficult.

14. Thank you for never giving up on me.

15. Thank you for always having my back.

16. Thank you for raising me with the tools to stand on my own.

17. Thank you for showing me what love is.

18. Thank you for being my role models.

19. Thank you for being my heroes.

20. Thank you for showing me what love feels like.

21. Thank you for giving me good genes.

22. Thank you for always answering the phone or calling me back when you can’t answer.

23. Thank you for standing up for me.

24. Thank you for wanting me to be better than you are.

25. Thank you for showing me what hard work looks like.

26. Thank you for giving me the ambition I need to keep moving forward.

27. Thank you for being willing to forgive and not hold things against me.

28. Thank you for showing me that everyone struggles.

29. Thank you for being my closest friends who know me best.

30. Thank you for always having my best interests at heart.

31. Thank you for supporting me.

32. Thank you for packing my lunches during grade school.

33. Thank you for teaching me manners.

34. Thank you for giving me time and energy.

35. Thank you for letting me try new things.

36. Thank you for allowing me to fail.

37. Thank you for pushing me to do my best.

38. Thank you for being there to support me in times when all I wanted to do was give up.

39. Thank you for accepting me for who I am.

40. Thank you for teaching me about the real world like taxes, stocks, and savings.

41. Thank you for giving me a life to live.

42. Thank you for making sure I won’t be financially struggling throughout my life.

43. Thank you for supporting me through everything I do, even if you don’t agree with my actions.

44. Thank you for allowing me to find myself.

45. Thank you for letting me be the realest version of myself.

46. Thank you for helping me when I need it.

47. Thank you for making me laugh when all I wanted to do was cry.

48. Thank you for teaching me to accept others the way they are.

49. Thank you for helping me see how beautiful I was when I didn’t believe it.

50. Thank you for motivating me.

51. Thank you for showing me what is is like to have a passion.

52. Thank you for being patient with me.

53. Thank you for everything.

I appreciate everything you do and I wish I could explain to you how much you mean to me. I hope you have a great anniversary, because you deserve it. Celebrate how amazing you two are and how in love you are. You built a family--a strong loving family--in a home that you built. You made the house a home, and you made me feel safe during the times when I was scared. You allowed me to grow on my own but stepped in when I needed help. You never made me feel like I was alone; I could not be more thankful for that. I love you and I wouldn’t want to have been raised by anyone else.