Step parents— a person who is not one's biological parent but has married one's parent after one's birth.

Being a daughter of divorced parents has introduced me to two step parents. Not gonna lie, from the very beginning it's weird. Having someone else love your mother or father is something different. It wasn't easy at first. I had my fair share of tantrums and petty little arguments. But there's a lot of things that I have not thanked my step parents for.

Thank you for teaching me acceptance.

From you, I learned that accepting one into the family is a big deal. It's a change, for sure, but it means a lot for people to actually accept and respect you being apart of the family. Family gatherings are never weird. It's like we were always apart of the family.

Thank you for reaching out to me.

Of all the times you have seen me upset or just out of sorts, you make sure that I am okay. It might be a little iffy just wondering if it's overstepping boundaries but it truly does mean a lot. Having another person to talk to when your parent isn't there is something I am very thankful for.

Thank you for teaching me real life.

The amount of things I have learned from sitting down and having real life conversations about the "what if's" and "how to's" of life. I have learned that there's a whole world out there, and I am ready to be apart of it.

Thank you for understanding.

Thanks for understanding that it's hard. It's hard to see our mom or dad love someone else. It's weird to have someone else loving your parent. At one point we were one family and now it's split into two. But eventually it comes together and it's no longer something you are sad about, but something to be happy about.

Thank you for being patient.

Of all the fights I have picked, to all the looks I have made. You were patient enough to wait for me to come around. It's something tough to do. To have that awkward time where you aren't even sure if your own step child likes you or not. But thanks to you, I was able to have the time and space that I needed to finally understand why you are there.

Thanks for picking up the pieces that were left behind.

You're here because you love my parent. What was once a shattered heart, is now pieced back together again. No more tears of sadness but tears of joy. I am lucky enough to watch my mom/dad glow up when they see you. For that I am thankful.

Thank you Don and Maria, for being the best step parents.