Parents: love'em or hate'em, you got'em. Most parents aren't especially great parents. But… at the same time, most people aren't very good or intelligent people.

The parents you get are the parents you are usually stuck with – for better or worse. I won't say that every parent deserves to be loved and appreciated because that simply isn't true. However, most parents who do deserve to be appreciated, aren't appreciated.

Why? Because most people aren't very good, intelligent people, nor are they especially considerate of others.

If you have parents you love, then do yourself a favor and let them know you love them. Need a reason? Here are nine:

1. The first step in mending any relationship is letting them know they mean a lot to you.

It shouldn't be a difficult thing to do, to tell your parents they mean a lot to you, that you're thankful to have them in your life, and you love them. Yet, it often turns out to be.

Few parents raise their kids in environments where these three words are commonplace. If they mean a lot to you, then tell them they do. It can do wonders towards mending your relationships.

2. Not all parents are great parents, but also keep in mind that most parents don't even bother trying.

If you were one of the lucky few who was born into a family with parents who did their best to create a good life for you, then you should love them for that alone.

Most kids aren't born into a loving family with parents who care about their children. Most parents are horrendous guardians and teachers. Most are awful influences.

If your parents are even decent people, they deserve to be appreciated.

3. You shouldn't assume they know you love them – and even if they do know, everybody likes a reminder.

Parents love their children more deeply than children love their parents. It's probably because they are older, wiser and have a better understanding of love itself. When you love as deeply as a parent, you yearn to have that love reciprocated.

Reciprocation in action is always better than in words, but everybody – and I mean everybody – likes to hear the words as well. When you love as deeply as a parent, you actually worry about whether or not your child loves you. Reassure your parents that you do.

4. Your parents won't be around forever… you may not get another chance to tell them.

People come and go in the blink of an eye. One day you will wake up and half of the people you know will be gone. Half of the people you love and care for will no longer be alive.

You never know when someone is going to go – don't take a gamble on risking never telling your parents what they truly mean to you. One day they will be gone.

Or you will be gone. Regardless, you don't want to miss out on the opportunity to make someone feel loved because, in the end, that's all that matters.

5. Most of the people in your life are barely acquaintances.

Most people will mean little more than nothing at all to you. If you are lucky enough to have people in your life you love, then you ought to tell them so. I'm sure you can calculate all the people you really love on your fingers and toes – that's not a whole lot.

You shouldn't have trouble loving and caring for such a small group of individuals. If we're talking about your parents, they're just two individuals.

Two individuals who, more likely than not, deserve at least a bit of your love.

6. Tell your parents you love them because it's good for you.

It's not only good for your parents – it's good for your soul, too. I feel as if most people don't tell others they love them because it makes them feel uncomfortable.

Maybe it's a fear of rejection. Maybe it's a sort of embarrassment. Whatever the case, it's just plain silly to think in such a way. Grow up and love… either fully or not at all.

7. If you can't tell your parents you love them then chances are you won't raise your children who can say they love you.

If you can't tell your parents you love them now, then you will likely have difficulty telling your kids you love them – if only because you're not used to that sort of relationship.

It may not seem like a big deal right now, but believe me when I tell you that a parent needs to hear those words from time to time. As will you when you have your own kids.

8. You never know how rough of a time your parent(s) is/are having.

If you don't tell each other you love each other too often, then chances are you don't have a very good relationship.

Because we see our parents in a different light than we see the rest of the people in our life, it's easy for us to forget they are people like us too – and they may be having a difficult time smiling.

They may be having a difficult time at work, with their friends, with their husband or wife. Children usually fail to see their parents as people, but see them as super-individuals, who don't need to deal with the same sh*t we ourselves have to deal with. That's just not true.

9. If there’s no reason not to tell them you love them… then there is no reason not to.

We are always looking for a reason to tell people what they mean to us. We wait for special occasions. We wait for a clear reason so that we can justify saying those three words.

But why? Why do you need a reason to tell someone you love him or her? Isn't love itself reason enough?