Growing up, I believed I had very strict parents.

My friends could stay out until midnight and I could only stay out until 10 p.m.; they could go wherever they wanted, whenever they wanted; they could have a billion friends over at one time and have everyone drink like it's the end of the world, and some parents would be totally cool with it.

I remember saying, "Oh my parents would never let me do that" or "psh yah like that would fly with the Hebranks." I never really knew why they were so strict... I mean, it wasn't like I had the type of personality that would land me in juvie anytime soon. I thought I was a pretty well-behaved kid.

I never drank, I tried as hard as I could to remember to keep my mom updated on my whereabouts, I tried not to whine about chores, I helped out with my brother, and I was very honest. So, why did I have to have all these rules for being a good kid?

I figured it all out. My parents did this for me so I wouldn't become a shitty adult. In college, I've met some pretty self-absorbed, selfish, egotistical, and entitled people. I've seen people cuss their parents out on the phone and demand things from them with such disrespect. I could NEVER imagine talking to my parents this way.

I never realized why people are the way they are until I thought back to why I'm not that way: my parents.

So mom and dad, thank you so much for teaching me to put others first.

Thank you for not letting me stay out until 12 a.m. on school nights when I was in middle school. It taught me responsibility.

Thank you for not letting me throw huge parties in high school. It taught me right from wrong.

Thank you for setting my bar so high in the dating world. I now know how I should be treated.

Thank you for teaching me manners. I can't imagine how I would be without them.

Thank you for pushing me on my schoolwork. It taught me priorities.

Thank you for making me responsible for my brother. It taught me patience.

& without these values, I don't believe I would be a good person.

So mom and dad, I'm sorry for how hard I made your jobs. I know acted entitled and rude at times, but I didn't understand your reasoning for all those rules. Now I do. Thank you for not giving in. Thank you for being my parents first and friends second. I needed that.

I'm proud of the person I am today thanks to you both. You did good.