Growing up, I believe we take our parents for granted. I don't believe taking our parent for granted is something we mean to do, but we're young kids focused on ourselves.

As I've become older, I've realized that my parents are some of the only people I can count on.

Growing up, they took care of me; they dealt with me in my awkward middle school stage to my hormonal teenage years.

My parents have never turned me down when I needed help. Now don't get me wrong, they've given me tough love when needed, but they've always taken care of me, no matter what with not too many questions asked.

The thing I've noticed as I've grown up and gotten older, I've noticed my friends have thinned out to who really matters, but my relationship with my parents has gotten stronger. I've realized that when I need advice on a situation or help, or just to feel better, calling one of my parents seems to help.

So I think what needs to be said is thank you, mom and dad. Thanks for always being there for me, through the good times and the bad. Thank you for putting up with me throughout the years. Thank you for being such good role models. I'm sorry if I've ever given you trouble. And I just hope that I've made you proud as some point.

As I've become a parent myself, I only hope that my daughter knows that she can always come to me and I'll always have her back.