I still remember meeting you for the first time in a restaurant. Thought you were kind of weird, but if my mom liked you as much as I thought she did then you couldn't be too bad.

Originally, you didn't want to do the parent thing. The whole "I'm dating your mother" aspect was tough to navigate at first and we definitely bumped heads a few times. But, I think we finally found a dynamic that works for us. Our mutual stubbornness can get the best of us sometimes, but we make it work.

I know it was difficult to come into our lives, especially with my mom and I being so close. Unfortunately, I did not take it all very well at first and I lacked the maturity to accept change. But, we got through it, and we are stronger family because of it.

That's the tricky thing about being a stepparent. It is tough and definitely a challenge to figure out where you fit into the picture. You by no means replaced a missing piece but instead added a piece to the puzzle that I didn't think I needed. Now, I can't picture my life without that piece. You didn't have to step up and be a parental figure in my life, but you chose to, and that means more than I could ever put into words.

As much as we like to pick on each other and like to give each other a hard time, I know you would step up and be there for me with whatever I need. No matter what happens in my life, I know both you and my mom got my back and we support each other through good times and bad. Even when we make mistakes, we pick each other back up and keep going. I am incredibly grateful to have you in my life and I don't tell you that enough. You add a unique piece to my mom and me's life that is irreplaceable. We even joke that we are almost too much alike to not be related. Together, we make a quirky little family that is by no means perfect, but I wouldn't have it any other way.