Dear Mom and Dad,

I have let so many years pass without thanking you both; thanking you for everything you’ve done for me these past 18 years. But you haven’t let a single second pass without loving me unconditionally.

At this point in my life, I’m supposed to be considered an adult. Yes, I don’t always act like it but that’s a part of growing up, isn’t it? The more years I gain, the larger the window I get,and I start to realize just how much you did for me. How much money you spent, how much time, and the sweat and tears you gave to keep your little girl happy. And as late as it is, I need to thank you because I haven’t done a good enough job doing just that yet.

Dad, thank you for all the times when you encouraged me to chase after the things that I wanted. Thank you for being that force of nature when times got tough, for sometimes giving me that extra push when I needed it.

Mom, thank you for showing me that women aren’t just an object, but rather people who are to be respected, and can have a will and character of their own. Also, for showing me that I can stand up for myself when I need to, and for teaching me to believe in myself.

Dad, thank you for being Mr. Mom. Thank you for all the car rides and memories that came along with it. Thank you for rocking out nonstop to Joe Diffie’s “Third Rock from the Sun” with me on those late night donut runs. Thank you for being a form of Snapchat entertainment, just to show everyone how cool my dad is.

Thank you both for helping my agonizing brain with the unrelenting monster that was math homework. Thank you for being as patient as you could be as I often lashed out at you from frustration.

Mom, thank you for all the times when I came to you crying and you just held me and told me things were going to be OK. And for being on my side (although I accused you more often than not that you weren’t). And for being a woman of inspiration.

Dad, thank you for not getting infuriated with me when my report cards came back with less than desirable grades. Thank you for trusting me last year when I said “I’ll get it together, trust me,” (especially with the last year of high school with that horrible senioritis thing that was going around).

Mom, although you say you didn’t really know my friends, you did. At least in the aspect of whenever I had troubles with a friend, you knew about it. Thank you for all the words of advice you gave me to help solve a situation I thought was unsolvable. Thank you for calming me down in what seemed to be the uncalmable.

Dad, thank you for being a mechanic. Thank you for teaching me how to check my oil. Thank you for attempting to teach me how to drive stick shift. I’m sorry I cried when you did try.

Thank you both for loving Jesus so hard. Thank you for believing in a higher power so much that we went to church every Sunday. Thank you for all the car rides and help when it came to the countless youth events I participated in. Thank you for introducing me to a source to go to in times where it feels there’s no where else to turn.

Mom, thank you for being so bound to your rules that kept me from doing things that may or may not have lead me down the wrong paths, jeopardizing my future. Thank you for having a good sixth sense. Thank you for sticking to your guns in the times when I couldn’t be madder at you. Thank you for loving me even at the unlovable times.

Dad, when I called you to ask if I could get my cartilage pierced, thank you for leaving the decision up to me, although you probably wanted to tell me no. Thank you for letting me/forcing me to make that adult decision on my own (after all, I was 18).

Mom, thank you for showing me the female ropes. Thank you for stopping the middle part hairstyle ASAP. Thank you for showing me certain colors do not go well together, and for showing me how to do my makeup. Thank you for telling me to stop using that horrible black eyeliner, and for not allowing me to wear some skimpy dress or something that was otherwise too revealing. Thank you for showing me how to dress conservatively, yet classy.

Dad, thank you for being the perfect example of how a man should treat a woman. Thank you for treating mom with as much love and respect as you know how. Thank you for trying your best, and for loving her as much as you do - if not more - from day one. Thank you for proving that chivalry isn’t dead, and for setting a baseline expectation for the very least of what I should accept.

To both of you, I’d be nowhere near the person I am — and the person I’m still working on becoming. There aren’t enough words in the world to express my appreciation, but I think this is a good start. I owe you one.

Love,

Your Little Girl