Growing up, every time somebody found out that my parents are divorced I would hear the same guilty, "oh, honey, I am so sorry." To which I would questioningly assure them that it was okay. I never understood why people felt so sorry for me. I never understood why my parents being happier separated than unhappy together seemed like such a bad thing. But, now I do.

Growing up, I could never quite figure out how someone could feel sorry for the little curly haired girl who got two Christmas mornings, two Thanksgiving dinners, and double the birthday presents. But, now I do.

Growing up, I watched people's jaws drop in amazement when I tell them about my not-so-broken family. When I tell them that my parents, who have been divorced for almost two decades, are actually friends. When I tell them that my little brothers, who have two completely different sets of parents from each other, are best friends, because of the amount of time they spend with each other. When I tell them that my mom still considers my dad's sister, her sister. When I tell them that my Mom's parents still ask about how my dad is every single time I see them. When I tell them that my Dad's parents still hug my mom every time she runs into them in public. I never understood what was so unusual about this. But, now I do.

I grew up splitting my time evenly between my parents. I never endured the "weekends at dad's" or the "it's mom's Christmas." I grew up watching my mom mow the yard, and take out the trash and practice throwing the football with my little brothers. I watched my dad cook, and clean, and play Barbies with me. I grew up with two single parents who I've watched work so incredibly hard for everything they have. I never understood how unusual this was. But, now I do.

Growing up, I got to look out in the crowd at every dance recital and see my parents sitting next to each other. I got to watch my parents hug at my graduation and through the tears whisper, "we did it." Every college visit, every prom, and every chorus concert you were there, together. I never used to fully appreciate how amazing this was. But, now I do.

It took until I was grown up to realize that not all divorced parents are as amazing as mine, and I could thank my parents every single day and it would never be enough.

I used to think that I just simply got lucky. But, now, I see that it's so much more than luck. It took effort and so, so much love from each of you to let me grow up and be able to write an article about how easy your divorce was on me.

So, thanks, mom and dad.

You guys showed me maturity. You guys showed me stability. You guys showed me what it means to do anything for your children.

You guys showed me that "home" isn't always found in four walls and a roof, but instead, home is found in the arms of the two people who love you more than anyone else on this planet.

So, maybe I do technically come from a "broken family," but somehow, because of you guys, this big, loving, crazy family doesn't seem broken to me at all.