Dear Mom and Dad,

I am writing you this letter to express the appreciation that I have for everything you have done for me. My generation is far different from yours; one of these defining differences is perhaps a lack of appreciation. Not to sound too much like you, parents, but kids these days are constantly looking down at their phones and laptops when they should be fully embracing the life in front of them with gratitude. You always taught me to say “thank you,” and now I find myself thinking of you both every time I say those words. Therefore, I think it is only appropriate for you to realize how appreciated you truly are.

Firstly, thank you for making me try out for what seemed like 100 different sports teams as a child. I know you always wanted me to be athletically inclined, and much to your dismay I unfortunately did not have the competitive spirit, nor the hand-eye coordination necessary to be remotely “athletic.” However, being on sports teams did give me some of the best things in my life – my best friends, a reason to go outside, and the realization that being with other people isn’t really that scary after all. Not to mention that you and the rest of the volleyball moms/dads made up most of the cheering sections at our games (even though we lost many of them).

Thank you for being strict. For all the times I spent grounded at home not understanding why I was in trouble, I now realize that you just wanted me to slow down and be a kid. Thank you for the childhood you have given me filled with books, a larger than life family, and trips that were out of the ordinary. I think it is pretty cool that we were the type of family that climbed up volcanoes in Costa Rica instead of shopping and hanging out in the hotel. Your level of discipline only matched how much you wanted all of us to have the best experiences possible. You both work so hard for us to have these experiences, so it is only fair that we, in turn, put our heart and soul into everything we do.

You always taught us to dream big. Whether it was encouraging me to become a paleontologist as a child or supporting my big sister’s plans to bike across the United States this summer, you always make us feel like we can accomplish anything we set our minds to. It’s really a special phenomenon when you believe in someone so much that they start to believe in themselves; it’s kind of like the feeling you get when you finally learn how to ride a bike. At first you are nervous, but with the support of another person’s arms, ensuring that you won’t fall, somehow you gain momentum until you are unstoppable. We owe that phenomenon to you.

While the amount of things that you taught me is endless, perhaps the most important thing I have learned from you is how to love other people with my whole heart (especially when it is not easy). Your love and care for each of your children is resilient; you love us when we make mistakes, are broke and need some extra cash, when we are distant and lost. It is easy to put on a mask to face the rest of the world, but parents are always able to see right through that and know exactly what to say to help us accept the truth. Thank you for loving your children and each other wholeheartedly. When I look at you, Mom and Dad, I am in awe at how much two people can love each other through a lifetime that like many has had lots of obstacles. People have a hard time sticking around nowadays, but I see you two as examples of people who have been so strong for each other and you are what I believe love should be. I hope that someday I can love someone like you love each other.

Before I start crying, I just want to say that I hope you read this and realize how loved, respected, appreciated, and admired you are. People like you deserve to know how much you have influenced others. I see it in my three older siblings and me every day. I’m sure that when you were my age you probably had no idea that you would live the life that you have; I hope that you are proud of your lives so far and the lives that you have created. I can’t wait to be you when I grow up.

Your daughter,

Karla