Not only did you give life to me -- you gave me the best life possible. If it weren't for both of you, I would not be here writing this letter to y'all. I could write way more than 500 words because you have given me 20 years full of joy, sunshine, and complete happiness.
This is intended to give you all of the credit, because you give honor where honor is due, and that is to you.
Mom and Dad,
Where do I even begin? How about at the beginning... Well, you fell in love with each other, got married, and had me. What I want to thank you for is the fact that you love each other so much. You two have taught me what true love is and all it can be. You have inspired me to find my person that I can create as equally a happy life with as y'all. You both have drilled into my head that jealousy does not work and that a relationship is full of compromises. Thank you for loving each other and teaching me how to love.
Dad -- if you can’t fix it, it ain’t broken. Thank you for forcing me to stand out in the freezing cold to watch you change my tire. It may not have seemed like it then, but I enjoyed that demonstration and I am all the better and smarter for it. Because of you, I can change a tire, change my oil, plow a field, fish, properly shoot a firearm, and raise a large population of honey bees. Thank you also for making me really cool things that I see on Pinterest and for putting up with two wild women that I am sure drive you completely crazy. Growing up, I watched you work tirelessly, sometimes without sleeping, just so mom and I could have the best of everything. You work 80 or more hours some weeks just to keep me at a nice college with everything I need. I do not say this near enough…thank you. Without you, however, I wouldn't have went to college because you are the one who taught me that there is plenty of time to work, so I should take my education as far as it would let me. Thank you, Dad, for giving my future husband a run for their money as the best man ever.
Mom -- “You is kind, you is smart, you is important.” The truth of the matter is that we fight… a lot. It is mostly over the most stupid things ever, but who doesn’t argue with their mother? I have learned over the past 20 years, I will never win. You always do. I will add to that, moms are always right. It pains me to admit that I did wrong, but thank you for letting me do me, and learning from that mistake. Thank you for not getting too angry when I called and told you that I had gotten a tattoo or when I got a parking ticket at school (sorry). You have taught me how to cook, clean, and how to be the best mother to my future children. And major props to you for driving me everywhere for 18 years of my life, you’re the real MVP ma. But most importantly, thank you for always teaching me to be strong on my own and that “I don't need no man.” You have been and will always be my best friend, and even though we will probably argue over the cover picture to the article, I know that you will be by my side come hell or high waters.
Thank you for not getting mad when I changed my major or decided to transfer schools and for not cutting my hair when I was a kid… and had a rat tail (I was a cute girl who looked like a little boy). Thank you for pushing me harder and harder to reach my dreams and to never give up on something that I wanted. I have learned to love life and to live my life with love, because of you two. Thank you for making me the most blessed girl in the entire world.
