For myself, as an only child, all I ever wanted was a sibling to play with. Instead, the people I got to play with were my parents, and after a little bit that was just fine with me.

My relationship with my parents is amazing, and being their only child really strengthened it. They were my best friends when I was growing up. Not that parents can’t be your best friends if you aren’t an only child, but something’s just different when you’re the only one.

Regardless of whether or not you're the only child or one child out of a group of 10, I think we can all agree our parents deserve major props for everything they do for us.

1. Thank you for all the rides to sports practices and games for as long as I played.

You showed some real dedication to your star outfield flower picker.

2. Thank you for helping my imagination grow more.

Coming up with all of my imaginary friends did wonders in the long run.

3. Thank you for always making me feel included in the “grown up conversations."

Since I was often the youngest one around.

4. Thank you for riding all of the rides with me at theme parks.

Even if you really didn't want to, you would, just so I never had to ride alone.

5. Thank you for the constant support with whatever I decided to do.

Whether it was performing in musicals or joining the dance team, you both were always my top supporters.

6. Thank you for always making sure I had a shoulder to cry on if I needed to or someone to pat me on the back when I did well.

If nobody else was there, I could always count on you.

7. Thank you for all of the life lessons you gave me along the way.

I promise I'll keep them in my mind forever and use them whenever I need to.

8. Thank you for always giving me your unconditional love and support no matter what else life was throwing at you.

This one is pretty self-explanatory — thank you for being two of the most amazing people anyone could have the honor of knowing.

I can't put into words all that I have to thank you for, but I hope this got some of it across. You raised me the best you could with all of the tools you had, and I thank you for putting up with me all these years. You might say that's your job, but you didn't *just* put up with me. You put up with me, did all of the things above and so much more.

I am so lucky to be your child.

I love you to the moon and back, mom and dad. Thank you.