It’s so hard to lose sight of everything in the midst of our busy lives, jobs, and the stress of school. However, that’s normal. It’s normal for our attention to be drawn to whatever activity or item before us. My schedule is so hectic and I’m sure many can relate. I wake up, get ready for my day, go to school, participate in my extra circulars, come home, eat dinner, do homework, shower, then off to bed. Rinse. Lather. Repeat.

With that, I wanted to apologize for all those moments that I merely forgot to say thank you. However, there are a particular folks that I need to be especially thankful for—my parents.

Thank you for late nights.

Whether I couldn’t fall asleep because of the monsters under my bed, or my closet, you were there to keep me safe. Thank you for those especially late nights during middle school, and high school. I have always been a very involved student from sports, to those late Friday nights on the football field playing in the marching band. Without a doubt, I could look in the stands and you would always be there.

Thank you for making sure I am always well fed.

From birth, I have always been a rather healthy kid. And if I wasn’t, it was my own fault because mom made what was for dinner and that was just not negotiable. When I make those special trips home, I always get an invitation to the grocery store. Even now, every time my parents check in on me, the question is always: What have you eaten today? So, thank you for keeping my belly full.

Thank you for the laughs.

If anyone has ever met my parents, they are some of the funniest people you’ll ever meet. When my dad blurts out another pun and I swear I wouldn’t laugh this time, but I end up crying from laughter anyways. Or when my mom drives away from the car wash with a car that is not ours (sorry, Mom, I still love you). Whether the try to be funny or not, they always manage to make me smile.

Thank you for supporting me in everything I do and more.

I can always count on my parents for being so ecstatic on any new achievement. From getting a 93 on my psychology exam to making the All-Star Intramural football team at school, I can always count on my family to post my achievements on Facebook (y’all are so tech-savvy).

Thank you for teaching me how to love.

My parents don’t have the perfect marriage, which most couples don’t. But they constantly teach me what its like to love. Thank you, Dad, for teaching me how a true gentlemen should always treat his lady. Thank you, Mom, for being such a loving wife and mother. I don’t know how you put up with us knuckleheads, but you do. Thank you both for caring, patient and gentle with one another and teaching me that I deserve the world.

Thank you for always texting me goodnight.

This is something I always take for granted. I find it humorous 8 p.m. rolls around and I get a text “Goodnight. Love mom and dad.” Though I forget to reply sometimes (which I’m sorry for), I always smile when I see it. Reading this text every night always reminds me of their love for me and for that I’m truly thankful for.