When you date someone, in a way, you date their family as well. It makes things a whole lot easier if you can get along with them. In the case of my boyfriend's family, it was very easy to love them.

They were all very welcoming, super honest, and totally ready to embrace me from the jump. As I spent a weekend with my boyfriend, his mom, his mom's boyfriend, and his sister, I realized just how grateful I am for them, and their willingness to embrace me.

I haven't really had much of a chance to get to know anyone individually just yet, however, in the last year, I did learn a lot through him. Because of this, I realized there were a lot of reasons to thank his mom in particular.

So, Kaylen, in spite of the fact that I am awful with verbal communication, and I don't usually say a whole lot when I'm around, I decided to write this article for you in particular and express the things that I am thankful for.

First and foremost, thank you for being so inclusive.

There are plenty of weekends when I stay at your house and am thrust into the motions of whatever you guys are doing. I'm included in game nights, dinners, and even holidays like it's not big deal and everyone acts like I'm part of whatever is going on.

While including me you've also kept in mind that I may not look like I am having the most fun because I am not really saying a whole lot. But you tend to understand that being quiet is just how I like to be. I am incredibly anxious all of the time and coupled with the fact that I just generally have nothing to say, I rarely ever talk much. But you seem to totally understand that I am present, I'm happy, I just don't have much to say.

I want to thank you for helping me recognize that we all have our issues, but it doesn't define who we are.

I come with an entire host of baggage. But you've made it clear that it doesn't matter. We all have our demons and it's about how we choose to carry on and deal with them. You've also been super willing to talk about any and all of it with me.

Granted, there haven't been times when I really took you up on the offer, but it's nice to know that you're willing to set aside that I'm dating your son, and give me an unbiased person to talk to.

There have also been plenty of nights when I did not want to or could not go home and I had no idea where else I was going to go. But, it was made clear that I am able to stay in your home whenever I need to and you rarely ever even require an explanation. I appreciate that.

I really want to thank you for just being you, to be honest.

I will admit, I was stressed beyond belief when Dylan brought me over to meet you. There are plenty of moms who are not keen on their sons dating. I have had some horrible experiences with hover moms in the past. But you were really great right off the bat. You're incredibly easy to get along with, easy to approach, and generally fun to be around.

You tend to remind me that it's important to laugh sometimes. I am a super stiff person, I don't laugh very often, even when something is funny. It's interesting sometimes when something is funny and you look at me while you're still laughing and go, "It's okay to laugh!" even when life gets hard.

You're also very blunt and real, which I appreciate as well. There have been many times when Dylan and I both needed a good kick in the pants to solve an issue and you were very honest and real with us. You shared your experiences and gave advice. But you also made sure we understood that we had to be grown ups about it.

These last two things are the most important things I want to thank you for.

I really want to thank you for making Dylan who he is. All of the things that I love and respect about him are because of the way that you raised him. He's incredible in a multitude of ways but without you he wouldn't be the person I love so dearly.

Lastly, I want to thank you the most for allowing me to love your son, unconditionally, in the way that I do. You've shared him with me, sacrificed time with him so I could see him, and allowed me to see him for the person you raised him to be.

You never had to be accepting of me, you never had to be nice to me, and you never had to support my relationship with Dylan in the way that you do. You never had to do anything that I've written so far, actually. But you continue to do all of those things and continue to be a person that I respect immensely for all of the above.

So for the final, what is likely the hundredth, time in this article, I thank you.