Dear Mom,

Happy Father's Day! This has been a running joke between me and most people that know me for years. I know this holiday is hard for many people whose dads have passed (like yours) or decided to leave their family. For me, it's always been a toughie, but not as hard as the big ones like Christmas or Thanksgiving. I think you always knew, but never wanted to point it out. This day is about appreciation for dads all over and although you're not actually my dad, you have been acting as both parents for as long as I can remember.

I can't imagine it being easy to support me by yourself, but you did and continue to do so. You never ask for anything in return, and I have never heard you complain about not having two incomes, two people to drive me around, or another parent to have to take care of me.

There's quite a few stereotypes surrounding being a dad, whether they be the one to teach the kid sports, "scare" the boys who want to take me on a date, fixing broken appliances around the home, and embarrassing their daughters in public. You manage to do all of these things perfectly while still maintaining the mom stereotype. Congrats!

Thank you for being my "replacement dad." Thank you for teaching me you don't need a man to shovel for you, buy a car, or navigate Home Depot (though you might need to ask a worker). You took me fishing and taught me how to drive. (Well, in a parking lot. There was effort. We'll work on that.) Games were always a thing between Dad and I, but you tried your best to play video games with me and when you kept losing, gave up but still watched. I never felt shorted growing up and sometimes I forget I'm a child of a single parent. You did double the work, driving me everywhere and still having time to make dinner and listen about my days. I have to say, some days you even made it look easy.

Any woman can be a mom, but you stepped up to the plate. You took on both jobs; giving up was never an option to you. although you might be a super hero to me, I know you can't do it all. Of course there are days I get upset and may not tell you. I'm sure you do the same, and it happens to a lot of single moms. But no matter how tired or upset you got, you never tried to pawn me off on a babysitter, unless you had to for a few hours.

I won't have a man walk me down the aisle to my future husband or dance with me at my wedding, but I will have you. That's more than enough, as long as you promise not to embarrass me too much.