"There is no friendship, no love, like that of a parent for the child."

When I was younger, I thought everyone had parents like I did. I thought that everyone's dad brought them lunch in elementary school. I thought that everyone's mom played makeup with their little girl. I thought that everyone's parents came to the dance recitals, the soccer games, and the band concerts.

I've heard my friends talk about their parents going out of town when they were younger to "have a break." I understand, but my parents never did this. It honestly confused me to hear some people talk about their parents going on vacation by themselves every month. Because every vacation my parents went on, my siblings and I went with them.

Slowly, I realized, everyone did not have my parents like mine. I looked back and remembered that some students in my classes in elementary never had their parents at parties. When I was on drumline in high school, I looked around at football games and realized that not everyone's parents were in the stands to watch them perform.

Now, I 100% understand some parents really do have to work a ton to support their families, and I support and commend the parents that do that. But I'm also positive that there were parents who instead of watching their child march on the field, went out on their own to have dinner.

So many people have parents that aren't active in their children's lives and that is heartbreaking to me. I was able to experience a loving household, and I so dearly wish that everyone else could have experienced that too.

When I got into a wreck in college, I didn't hesitate to call my parents and I knew they wouldn't hesitate to come to me. It didn't matter that I was 2 hours away. They came immediately. When you love someone, you don't hesitate when they need you.

Perhaps the biggest thing I want to be in life is a mom. I so so badly want to be a mother. But I don't want to be just a "good mom." I want to be just like my mom. Before being a mom, I want to be married. But I don't just want to marry a "good man", I want to marry a man like my dad.

My parents showed me more love than I could ever even comprehend. My parents supported me in everything I did. They came to every recital. They came to every game. If I said I needed them, they would drop literally anything to make the drive to me. There was never a question of their love for me. When love is real, it is unconditional, and I am so thankful to have parents who have shown me that.

"Love is patient, love is kind."