Not everyone grows up with the privilege of watching their parents live every day completely in love. Whether you are watching both your biological parents live out their lives in love with each other, or with different partners— it’s not something that everyone gets to experience.

If you looked up the definition of "love" in the dictionary, I’m beyond sure that my parents would be the answer. They are high school sweethearts, best friends and (luckily for me) incredibly unselfish parents.

I’m not just saying this because they are my parents. I’m saying it because even if they weren’t my parents and were complete strangers— I’d still look at them and see two people madly in love with each other.

Growing up, I never realized how rare and special it is to have two parents who act this way towards each other.

During high school, it started to click that not everyone was blessed with parents like this. When I would have my friends come over, my parents would be acting completely normal to me— holding hands, flirting, joking around-- but my friends would freak out about how cute it was. I would laugh it off because that’s how it always is around here.

I didn't understand that there is a difference between having married parents and having parents that exhibit how much they love each other, every single day. Not every marriage is as love filled as the one I grew up watching and this isn't something to take for granted.

When I was in elementary school, I can remember my parents getting in a fight about what was going to be for dinner. I ended up crying and asking my mom if they were going to get a divorce. My mom started laughing and told me they weren't ever going to get divorced, especially not over a dinner argument. I didn't realize how lucky I was that an argument over dinner seemed so drastic to me since I rarely ever saw them fight.

I’ve grown up worried that I’ll never find a love as strong as the one I watch them live out. I’ve been told I have an unrealistic idea of love because, “Nowadays that kind of love doesn't exist.” Yet, all I feel is sorry for those people because if they grew up with my parents they would certainly feel differently.

Mom and dad, thank you for showing me that true love, friendship and commitment is the way to do marriage.