I wanted to hate you.

I know that's a horrible thing to say to someone who makes my mom happy. She's the light in my world, the one who I always go back to. It had just been my small family of four since I was 5 years old and there you were, disrupting the life we had made for ourselves.

My mom took care of us, I helped take care of my siblings, and that's how it had always been. It wasn't always the best, but I was happy where I was. Suddenly, you showed up out of nowhere, taking my mom from me and "ruining" my life entirely.

Mom had never had a relationship that she shared with us. I knew that it was hard to find someone who wanted to deal with three kids, but I was okay with staying in my little corner of suburbia. Then you suddenly came around and so did your kids. We spent a few weekends at your house, the three couches in your living room providing cramped beds for us, and you came on a few vacations to Wisconsin with us.

No matter what, though, I despised every moment. I was supposed to be spending time with my mom and you were intruding on my territory.

After learning that I would have to completely uproot my life halfway through high school so that we could live in the city with you, you dropped another bomb on me. You asked for mine and my siblings' permission to propose to Mom.

I feigned a smile and said yes, as, by that time, I had learned to keep my mouth shut. Otherwise, the fury of my mom would be unleashed upon me. I wouldn't say that I disliked you so much as to wish that you wouldn't marry my mom, but I was a bratty teenager who apparently only wanted to hurt those around her.

We had a bonfire, you proposed, we celebrated with champagne, and I realized something. The proposal meant that this was real. There would be no going back to my old high school. I'd really have to attend a new school, make new friends, and give up everything that I'd ever known. The thought terrified me.

I can't thank you enough for everything that has happened since.

I'm not going to say that it was ever easy and that's my fault. I wanted to hate everything around me, including my family, school, and anyone attempting to be my friend. I created that situation for myself, but I blamed you. However, for some reason, you still treated me with respect, even though it took me too long to respect you too. You helped me turn my situation around. As the cliche saying goes, everything was going to be OK in the end.

Thank you for sticking by my side even when I thought that you were the worst person on the planet. Thank you for allowing me to grow at my own pace. Thank you for dealing with me yelling and slamming doors all the time.

Thank you for making my mom happy. We both know that she deserves the world. Thank you for treating me and my siblings like your own kids. Thank you for supporting me in every activity that I do.

Thank you for coming to Parents' Weekend every year. Thank you for loving the Hawkeyes as much as I do.

As much as I hate to admit it, you're pretty cool.

After all, I never really could hate you.