Dear Mom and Dad,
I know that I am not, by any means, a perfect child, and you are certainly not perfect parents, but I'm okay with that. Our imperfections are what make us, us. Since I was young, you've told me to give all of myself into what I do, and to never give up. You believed in me when no one else did, and you pushed me to be my greatest, even if my greatest wasn't the greatest out of everyone. You have taught me countless lessons that I hold close to my heart and hope to teach my own children some day. Being away at college has me me realize how much you guys actually do for me and how badly you want me to succeed. I know that my phone calls to home are sometimes infrequent, and when I do call I can sound irritated. Don't take this personally. I love being able to catch up with you and find out what's going on in your lives, much like you are interested in what's going on in mine. I actually look forward to speaking with you and telling you about my day. Missing you has made me so thankful to have parents like you, so I want to thank you for everything you have given me. Whether it be my chance to further my education and attend an amazing university, or the $20 you gave me for gas the other day, everything you have given me deserves to be recognized and appreciated.
Thank you for being there for the times I've failed, and for the times I've conquered. Thank you for always checking in on me and making sure I'm okay, eating enough, and enjoying life away from home. I'm sure I'll regret saying this at some point, but thank you for embarrassing me in front of my friends. They all think you're both goofballs, but they love hanging around you because you're the fun parents, and those embarrassing moments make for great stories later.
Thank you for supporting my choices, and allowing me to be the one who makes them. Thank you for all of the times you told me I wasn't allowed to do something or go somewhere. I may not have known it then, but now I know that you were just looking out for me and wanted me to be safe. Thank you for raising me to be a strong and independent person who isn't afraid to take the world by storm.
Mom, thank you for always being there when I need to get something off of my chest. You always know just what to say and how to comfort me, even if your way of comfort is just a hug. Dad, thank you for telling me to never give up and to always be my own person. College is a totally different world, and it's so easy to compromise yourself so you can fit into the "cool" group. Because of you, I know who I am and what I stand for, and I don't want to try to be someone I'm not.
Most of all, thank you for loving me unconditionally and being the best parents you can be. I hope I turn out like you guys one day.
