Growing up in a town of middle to upper middle-class families and not being in one of those families, I often felt like I deserved a lot more than I received. My friends and peers vacationed in exotic places, spent their summers by the pool of a country club and had access to anything they wanted at the swipe of their mom and dad's credit cards. Those luxuries were often out of reach for me and as a child I envied them. As an adult, I couldn't be more grateful for not having those things handed to me.

Don't get me wrong, I didn't have a bad childhood by any means. I have a wonderful, supportive family. There was always food on the table and a roof over my head. Looking back now, I wonder why I ever thought I had the right to think I deserved any more than that. How did you put up with me? You deserve a lot more credit than you were given.

You taught me life skills I would have never known if you had handed everything to me on a silver platter. Even the smallest things add up to a lot. You taught me to work for the things I wanted. You taught me that if I wanted to go to college, I had to work my hardest to get there. You taught me mindset and priorities. You taught me how to save money and pay bills. You taught me how to cook, how to clean, how to multitask, how to have a full schedule and still manage to fit more in. I could go on and on. All of these things have enabled me to be independent and have the passion I have for what I do.

And you didn't just teach me how to be a functioning member of society, you taught me how to accept others regardless of their skin color, their sexuality, the clothes they wore, or where they came from. You taught me how great it is to express yourself and to respect others for having different ways of expressing who they are. You taught me how amazing the feeling of making someone else smile is. You taught me love and empathy. You taught me to be who I am and I thank you so much for that.

I have met far too many college students that don't embody any of these morals or posses any ability to be independent and I no longer envy them, I feel sorry for them. The real world is a tough place, you made me strong enough to handle it.

Don't think this is my way of telling you I don't need you anymore, I'm still no where near perfect and I may fall down now and again, but you taught me how to get back up and keep going.

Thank you for holding my hand and knowing when to let go.

Thank you for being the mom and dad you are.