When people ask me who I look up to or who my hero is, the answer is simple: my father. Most people who grow up in an abusive household recreate the same environment in their adult years. My father overcame adversity, abuse and neglect to become the most loving man I know.

For pretending to like my music.

Thank you for always letting me have control of the radio in the car. And sorry for making you listen to all those old Jonas Brothers albums.

For sneaking me chocolate when Mom isn’t looking.

And the occasional $20 to slip in my hand accompanied by a “shhh.”

For giving me your coffee addiction.

We both have dark roast iced coffee running through our veins. But at least I can count on you to always get my coffee order correct.

For letting me watch football with you.

Hey, girls can like football too! You let me tag along with the boys and never once complained.

For hating my ex-boyfriends.

I mean, really, Taylor Swift said it best, “My daddy’s gonna show you how sorry you’ll be.”

For being strict while still giving me my freedom.

For teaching me kindness.

To love everyone as Jesus himself did. To never put yourself before others. Stay humble and others will follow.

For always having my back.

You defend me when others try to pull me down. You make sure to pick me right back up again.

For teaching me to work for all that I have.

You taught me to be ambitious and resilient. If I want something, I must work hard to get it, but never lose my values along the way.

For always cheering me on.

Thank you for always being my number-one supporter. All those gymnastics competitions could not have been all that fun for you. You always beamed with pride and cheered me on no matter how many times I complained about you being the loudest one in the room.

For never laying a hand on me.

No my father never “spanked” me. He was a good enough parent that he never had to. He would just give me that disapproving look with his eyebrows tilted down. I stopped what I was doing immediately because I never wanted to disappoint him.

Thanks for being predictable and never letting me down.

If he says he is going to be there, he will be. In fact, he will probably be there 10 minutes early just in case.

For teaching me not accept anyone who is less than a real man.

Oftentimes, I believe you set the bar a little too high. The way you love and respect Mom has taught me more than you will ever know.

For raising me to be a leader.

I appreciate you for giving me strong values that I will never be afraid to defend.

For wiping my tears when I cry.

I am grateful for always offering a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen.

For acknowledging my intelligence over my beauty.

You tell me I look beautiful every day; however, a day never goes by without you telling me how proud you are of my accomplishments and whom I have grown up to be.

For teaching me how to love.

I have you to thank for my ability to love blindly. My caring, compassionate and sometimes overly patient personality comes from you.

For loving me unconditionally.

I know I am stronger than my mistakes and that is directly because of you loving me unconditionally.

For being the best father you can be.

For someone who grew up without a dad, you are sure doing one hell of a job. Words do not describe the amount of love and admiration I feel for you. Thanks for always being true to you.

For you with love.