When we think of our best friends and why they’re our best friends, we often find ourselves saying things along the lines of "because she’s nice" or "he’s hilarious," or "I don’t know, we just always have a good time together." So bottom line, it all comes down to who they are as a person, and they weren’t just born this way. They were raised in a household that taught them to be who they have become. So we have a few people to thank for this, their parents.

Thank you for raising your child in a house where they learned to laugh and how to make others laugh. They’ve offered a good joke on bad day, and a continuous sense of humor throughout our friendship. Thank you for raising your child to genuinely care for others. At one time or another I know I could count on them for a shoulder to cry on or a quick text to see if everything is okay. Thank you for raising someone who is selfless. Someone willing to drop what they’re doing to come to the rescue whether it be with a ride, or just as someone who will sit and listen. Thank you for teaching them the value of family. They can understand as much as I’d like to go to the mall, it’s important for me to spend a night in with my family. Thank you for showing them the value of trust and honesty. I know I can count on my friends to tell me if I really do look fat in that dress. And I know they won’t tell a soul that I failed my first road-test. Thank you for showing them how to forgive. At one point or another I was probably the biggest pain in their ass, or they received the short end of the stick when I was in a bad mood. But they forgave me and decided that our friendship was worth more than a couple fights. Thank you for teaching them to support the people they care about, even when they don’t agree with them. They've supported my new obsessions and were there to laugh with me when I realized that side ponytails weren’t the best decision. And finally thank you for treating me like your own child. Chances are you’ve fed me countless meals, offered some sort of good luck or advice before heading off to my next adventure. I’ve met some extended family member at some point, and you’ve always welcomed me back into your home with open arms time and time again.

Thank you for raising someone who I’m lucky enough to call my best friend and continue to go on a series of life’s crazy adventures with. But most importantly, thank you for being like a second parent to me and for always cheering me on.