As Thanksgiving approaches I have been thinking a lot about the wonderful food that I will soon consume- STUFFING (anyone that knows me knows that I have a slight obsession with stuffing), sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, etc.- and more importantly, what I am thankful for. I know this may seem like those busy work assignments teachers would give you where you would color a pumpkin or cornucopia and write what you were thankful for on it, but I am honestly so blessed to have so many things to be thankful for. I’m thankful that I was born in the best country on earth (and the best state on earth); I’m thankful for animals and babies; I’m thankful that I have the opportunity to go to college, especially a faith-centered university, I’m thankful for my friends- old and new; I’m thankful for my two wonderful dogs at home who love me even though I left them to go to college; but most importantly, I’m thankful for my parents. For anyone who has never had the pleasure of meeting my parents, they are some of the best people on the planet, and I am so lucky to have them in my life. So this week, as I give thanks for all of these things, I’m giving a special thanks and shout out to my amazing parents with this list of reasons why I am thankful for them.

Reason Number One:

My parents are the best support system I could ever ask for. I’ve honestly been quite a problem child in life- from having six surgeries, to having the worst set of asthma-ridden lungs in the world, to having way too many emotional problems, to being way too complicated and indecisive, and the list just goes on. Despite all of these problems, they are always there for me to pick me back up and put me together again when someone hurts my way too fragile feelings, or when something completely crushes my world, or when things just aren’t going my way. I am so thankful that they are always there for me when I need them- and even when I don’t.

Reason Number Two:

My parents have been my best cheerleaders. In addition to being way to problematic, I was also way too involved as a child. I had some sort of extra-curricular activity every day of the week. However, no matter what, my parents were always there. They stood on the sidelines of every sporting event, and my dad even coached a few of them; they were in the audience for every dance recital and concert- from elementary choir, piano, and guitar to college band concerts that they have to drive three-and-a-half hours one way to come see; my mom was my Girl Scout leader, room mom, and band president, so my dad was dragged along every step of the way. The point is- they were always there to support me. Even when I chose the major with the most complicated application process and that most people would consider a waste- music- they were supportive of it. When my private lesson teacher said I had to get a new, professional flute, they saved up the money to pay for it. When I was told that I really needed to go visit and have a lesson with the flute professor for each university I was applying to-one of which being all the way in Michigan- they carved out the time to take me to them. When I decided to go to an outrageously expensive- but totally worth the money- university, they promised to find a way to make it work. When my performance anxiety was getting in the way of my dreams, they found a way to help me through it. They have been supportive of every single thing that I have chosen to do with my life, and I couldn’t be more thankful than that.

Reason Number Three:

They still help me with my homework even when I’m three-and-a-half hours away from them. I always asked my parents to edit my high school papers to make sure that I wasn’t over-looking anything. To my surprise, they are still willing to help edit my papers (and articles) even when it’s one in the morning and they have no idea what I’m writing about.

Reason Number Four:

They let me call them whenever I want to. I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like to walk alone, so if I’m not walking with someone, then I’m on the phone with my parents most likely. I mean they’re my best friends, and I’m not ashamed to say that, so why wouldn’t I want to call them and tell them about my day and ask about theirs? Also, we never run out of things to talk about, so that’s cool. But not only do they let me call them in the middle of the day, they also let me call them when I’m walking across campus from the music building to my dorm anywhere from midnight to three in the morning depending on how late my late night practicing goes. Honestly, I have never met anyone else with parents who would just talk to them for fifteen to twenty minutes at three in the morning as they’re walking home. And it’s not like this is a once in a while thing, I consistently call them in the early hours of the am as I’m walking home, and they never sound tired or irritable. I’m beyond thankful for this especially because those late night treks across campus would be absolutely terrifying otherwise.

Reason Number Five:

They love me so much more than I deserve for them to. I mean they are up here so much to come see me and support me in all of my collegiate endeavors, they help me out so much with everything in life, they are supportive of all of my crazy dreams, and they are just so encouraging and loving towards me, towards each other, and towards others. I definitely don’t deserve the love that they pour out to me, and I definitely don’t deserve parents as wonderful as them. I can only hope that someday when I have children of my own, I can be half the parents they have been for me.

I hope that this article has not only made my parents aware of how much I love them and how thankful I am for everything they’ve done for me, but has also encouraged everyone to take advantage of this time of thanksgiving and thankfulness to let the special people in their lives know that they’re thankful for them and that they care for them.

Happy Beginning of the Holiday Season Y’all!