I’ve talked to both of you on the phone today, and I’ll call both of you tomorrow, too. We talk to each other, but since we’re in different places (with me probably walking to or from classes), the conversation is mostly filler from these phone calls, I know the basics of what’s going on in your lives—the meetings, lunches and small ups and downs.

I’m writing this letter because I don’t think these phone calls are a good enough service to you. I don’t think I’ve given you enough of my time, and when I do give it, it’s not even given with my full attention. Chances are, while I’m talking to you, I’m saying “hi's” to friends who pass by me, checking the time to make sure I’m not late to lunch and running a daily to-do list through my head. Half of me is listening to how your day is going and half of me is focused on getting through my own day. Meanwhile, I have your full attention; you drop everything you’re doing to listen to what I have to say because it’s important to you.

Life gets busy and it’s hard to think about how much someone means to you when you’re so used to them being there. Mom and Dad, you’ve always been a constant help for me—whether that’s by walking me to my first day of kindergarten, and making me get out of a bush where I hid because I didn’t want to go back again (thanks for spotting my hair bow in the foliage, Mom), or taking me to get mani pedis and braving Limited Too for me (kudos to you, Dad, for making friends with every single woman who has ever filed your nails). When I was insecure with braces and not asked to dance at middle school functions, and when I had my first heartbreak, you were both there, with kind words and wisdom and whatever food my heart desired. When I had a day where everything went wrong at school and I came home and took all of my sadness out on you, you were both there, still with kind words, still with a homemade spaghetti supper (it’ll never get old, Mom) and a trip to TCBY afterwards (I’ll always be thankful for our froyo outings, Dad).

I don’t know where to begin with thanking you for all of these moments—both the good and the bad times.

You have put me first, no matter where we are, no matter what’s going on, and no matter how it affects you.

You love me, no matter where I’ve been, no matter what I’ve done, and no matter how much I have hurt you.

You forgive me, even if I have wronged you similarly before, and even if I do not deserve your grace.

You give me an example that I will one day (hope to) be for my own children.

How can I repay this service? I can only say thank you and hope that I have given each of you a fraction of the happiness that you have given me. You both have blessed me with a welcoming place to come home to and with people who I know will always greet me with love. No matter what happens to me while I’m away, I find peace in knowing I have a refuge I can come back to when I can’t weather a storm alone. You are both my rocks and comfort zone, and cliché as it is, I really and truly do not know who I would be without y’all.

Mom, I look to you for open, fully shown kindness—a generosity that can be seen from miles away. Your selflessness is truly astounding, and your heart is so big that I sometimes cannot believe it. You have taught me how to approach every day with a love for life that cannot be contained; you have shown such a large amount of joy at even the smallest of moments. I marvel at the fact that you continuously put your children before yourself, without a doubt, and no matter what situation you’re in.

Dad, I couldn’t be more proud of you. The hard work that you do, and the hours that you put into getting a task accomplished, have revealed to me how important it is to persevere in hardships and to never give up on success. All of the things that you do, I know you do them for the good of our family as a whole, and you will always use yourself in order to help others. Even in your success, you stay humble and care for everyone around you. The respect that the people under you have for you shows how well you treat everyone in your life, no matter how small their role.

Mom and Dad, as a team I look to you both for a goal to one day have: A pair that is strong when apart, but better when together. You love each other so well and so easily, I cannot help but become excited for one day having a marriage as healthy and wonderful as yours. The smiles and jokes and lightheartedness that continue to thrive in your relationship are some things I hope to share with someone.

I guess my main point is thank you for being you. Thank you for loving me so well that I get so used to your love and cannot imagine a life where I wouldn’t be able to take it for granted. Thank you for being with me, no matter what stage of life I’m in, and thank you for loving each other so well, too.

I love you both and will call tomorrow.