Dear Dad,

It’s pretty obvious to me that I wouldn’t have made it this far in life without your support. I’m also not sure that anyone else would have put up with me quite so well as you have for the past nineteen years. There are so many things that you have done for me and, in honor of you birthday, I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate it.

Thank you, Dad…

For putting up with my moods

I’ll admit I can be a little dramatic sometimes. I also have a tendency to get hangry and snap when I’m tired. Some days I’m in a bad mood for no good reason at all, and I think I’ve (occasionally) been known to take it out on you. Yet somehow, you manage to be levelheaded around me. You ask me if there’s anything you can do, even though I usually just grumble “no” to you, and instead of yelling at me, you try to cheer me up.

For always being up for a trip to Starbucks or Dairy Queen

You know how to feed my addictions, and you even seem to like doing it. You know that the most likely way to get me out of one of the moods mentioned above is by bribing me with coffee and that I'll never turn down ice cream. Life wouldn't be as good without rainy days spent sipping coffee and summer nights sitting on the tailgate of your truck, eating blizzards.

For helping me with my homework

It was one thing in junior high and high school when you could just lean over my shoulder to offer advice, but even now you’re always willing to help me whether it's via text, phone call, or FaceTime.

For taking me shopping even though you hate it

You avoid the mall like the plague when you need to shop, yet ever since I developed my love for shopping you’ve agreed – even volunteered – to take me wherever I wanted to go. Not too many dads are willing to take their 9-year-old daughters to Justice or their teenage daughter on an afternoon trip to Michigan Avenue, which makes you pretty special.

For saying yes when Mom said no

Every kid needs that parent who says yes when the other one says no, and fortunately, I have you for that. I know that if I ever really want something, I should ask you first, and eventually you’ll get Mom to come around to the idea.

For playing dolls with me when I was little

I can only imagine your shock (and maybe a little fear) when you discovered that you, from a family of all boys, were going to have to learn what to do with a girl. Lucky for me, you were willing to play baby dolls, house, or whatever else I was interested in.

For never being too busy for me

I can’t think of a time when you’ve told me that you were too busy for me. Sure, you can’t do everything the second I ask, but you always make sure to find time to set aside for me.

So thank you, Dad, for going above and beyond your normal fatherly duties to earn your title, “Number One Dad.” I love you.