Having recently divorced parents is a huge transition, to say the least. I spent my entire life growing up thinking my parents' marriage was "normal". I never thought I'd see the day when our family became broken and everything changed.

But it's a part of life.

They may have never held hands, kissed much, or went on dates, but I thought they loved each other. I noticed that all my relationships kind of resembled theirs in a way because that's all I ever knew. My boyfriends were more of my best friends than the "let's go on dates and buy each other nice things" type of relationship.

No one ever expected my parents to get divorced. They were always the life of the party, and they put on a good show of their happiness. I knew that was untrue, but I loved them unconditionally anyway.

They were, and still are, my biggest role models, even if they no longer speak.

So, when they told me that they were getting a divorce, it shook my world. I'm an only child, so I knew it would be hard for me. I knew from now on that holidays would be hard, and my birthdays would be awkward.

I thought I knew how tough things could get, but in reality, I didn't have the slightest idea.

It was one more "job" I had to fulfill. I had to balance which parent I would see, when I would see them, who I would be primarily living with, and who to see first on holidays. I had to get used to my parents dating, which is still hard.

I had to accept the fact that their whole world had changed, and I selfishly wanted mine to remain the same.

My entire life, their lives revolved around me, and now the roles had reversed. Now, I had to be the adult I always wanted to be, except no one tells you that the whole "adulting" thing is really hard.

No one told me how to manage my time between them, or that they would barely speak anymore. No one warned me about how having divorced parents meant losing everything you once knew.

I now know that, realistically, there is no such thing as normal. No one's marriage is actually picture perfect. No one's family is "better" than someone else's because they live the American Dream.

My family may be broken, but I can tell you my parents love me more than ever. Before, their anger toward each other would get in the way of our individual relationships.

Although now they have hardly communicated, or know what's going on in their now separated lives, they both have a shared love.

Me.

I will always be the one thing that keeps them silently bonded. As they both read this, I hope they know they didn't damage me in any way. In fact, they did quite the opposite.

They set an example, that no matter what anyone tells you to do or guilts you into staying together because of family or religious reasons; you can walk away from something that no longer serves you.

Simply put, they outgrew each other and fell out of love a long time ago. But they stayed together because they wanted me to have a sense of family, and I'll forever thank them for that. Now was their time to grow apart and leave the past in the past.

Together or not, they will always be my parents. As hard as it is to accept it, and watch them unfold, I still admire their strength and courage to walk away.

No one ever tells you the extent of having your parents get divorced in your 20s. It's weird and awkward. It's an adjustment, just like anything else. But just know they may no longer love each other, but they will forever and always love you.