I might be biased, but I think my parents are pretty great. Like anyone, we have had our moments where we disagree (ex: I do deserve a pony for good grades), but overall, I can honestly say that I have cool parents. Thanks to them, I am what I would consider a relatively good person and I have made it to almost 20 without anything terrible befalling me. While I have a lot to thank my parents for, I have even more things that I would like to thank them for not doing, because the list of what they did do is just too long.

Thank you for not making me feel like anyone was unwelcome in our home. Although it seemed small at the time, my parents were always open to me bringing friends, boyfriends, animals, friend's boyfriends, etc. into the house. I knew that anyone I loved would be loved by my parents. My parents were open, accepting and taught me to be tolerant and open to new people.

Thank you for not going easy on me. Although I didn't have crazy early curfews or weekly grade checks, my parents made it pretty clear that they expected a lot from me. They raised me to be strong, intelligent and hard-working, and they expected me to follow through. I knew that putting in effort at school, planning for my future, and being intentional about my actions was part of the norm at my house. We may have butted heads about it at times, but I wouldn't trade the morals they instilled in me for anything.

Thank you for not ever giving up on me. Being a parent, I would imagine, is one of the hardest things you can possibly do. Especially raising a sassy, sarcastic, and fiery child such as myself. From my first steps to my first fall, and all of my tumbles and scrapes in between, my parents have loved me unconditionally, and made sure I knew it too. Even when I was difficult and challenged them, I knew that I had my very own fan club of at least two people, no matter what I did.

Thank you for not ever telling me who to be. Like every kid, I went through phases where I made some questionable decisions (green gaucho pants with a pink cami) and I have made my fair share of mistakes, but through it all, my parents never once told me who to be. Whether I was five or fifteen, I knew that no matter what I did, my parents would love me for who I was. From small decisions like outfits, to big decisions like deciding who and what to believe in, my parents have stood by my endlessly and made it clear that I have the choice, and the right, to be who I am.

I may not tell them every day, and I just might complain more than I say thank you, but I love my parents more than anything in the world. They care about me, and more importantly, they put up with my shit, which is all I can really ask for this in life.