Dear second parents,
I'll start by thanking you for everything. Thank you for always answering the phone when I need someone to talk to. Thank you for never telling my parents anything we talk about. Thank you for picking me up that one night when I got too drunk in high school and was too nervous to call my actual parents. Thank you for being the people I can call when something goes wrong, and for teaching me lessons when I mess up. Thank you for never judging me when I do stupid things. Thank you for every Christmas gift, birthday present, and care package you've given me. Thank you for making stuffed shells just because I love them so much and think you cook them the best. Thank you for being friends with my parents.
Next, I'll apologize. I'm sorry for being dramatic sometimes and putting you in situations you probably don't want to be in. I'm sorry for asking you call me out of school in high school because my own parents wouldn't. I'm sorry for being stubborn, and I'm sorry I don't call enough when I'm away at college. But please know, nothing you do goes unnoticed.
You don't have to do what you do. You have kids of your own to support, and you didn't have to add an extra one, but you've never treated me like anything less than your own daughter, and for that I am eternally grateful. Of course, I have parents of my own and love them more than anything in the world and appreciate everything they've done for me. You could never replace them, but that's the thing: you don't want to. You give me supplemental parents. Parents who are there by choice, adults to look up to, and a "cool" set of parents when I think mine are being unreasonable (even though you always tell me they aren't). You give me parental advice without all of the strings attached, and I'm less stubborn when listening to lessons that come from you, even though they're the exact same as the ones my parents try to teach me. You may not have raised me from birth, but you've molded me.
You've taught me about myself. You've given me relationship advice. You've given me confidence and acceptance and you've pushed me to follow my dreams. You don't get mad at me when we don't talk for a while, and you support me in all of my endeavors. You've acted as people to look up to. If I could be half the people you are when I grow up, I would consider myself lucky. I am blessed to know you. I am privileged to be your honorary daughter, and I never hesitate to call you my second family.
So thank you. Thank you for helping keep my head on straight, even though at times I can be the most difficult person on Earth to deal with. Thank you, most of all, for loving me by choice, not by blood, because without you, I wouldn't be the same.
Sincerely,
Your second daughter
