Dear Mom and Dad,

As my 18th birthday and the end of my senior year of high school are rapidly approaching, I have taken more time than usual to reflect on all that you guys have done for me up to this point. I know that more often than not, I’m a stubborn teenager who snaps at you with unjustified sass and hides in her room 23 hours of the day. However, I could not be more thankful for all of the love, support, and encouragement that the both of you have given to me throughout my life. Although going to college is still a few months away, everyday it becomes more and more real to me that soon, I will be out in the world on my own.

There are so many things that I could thank both of you for that I don’t even know where to begin. Whether it was coming to all of my sporting events (even if you were the only ones in the stands), traveling all over the east coast just for me to see colleges I wouldn’t even end up applying to, or helping me through times I felt like the whole world was against me, you guys have always been my number one supporters. After all you've done for me, the least I could do is say thank you in an article on a national online platform. *Wave hello to the cameras!*

Mom, thank you for working so hard and having such a crazy schedule, just to ensure that you could give Jack and I the best life possible. You had to sacrifice missing a lot of games, school plays, and other events that came up throughout my life because of your hectic schedule. In retrospect, I know how badly you wanted to be there, but I understand exactly why you did what you had to do for us. Thank you for waking up at ungodly hours every Saturday morning for years when I was in middle school to do my hair for cheerleading competitions. You broke quite a few nails trying to get my ponytails just right and little curly wigs to fit over my massive amount of hair. Thank you for always being willing to grab a cup of coffee and watch a movie with me, even though we tend to bawl our eyes out and get depressed afterwards because we always pick the saddest ones. Driving around singing Kenny Chesney at the top of our lungs, eating peanut butter straight out of the jar, and putting cheese on anything that’s edible are just a few of the many things that we laugh about together. It will definitely not be the same without your sauce and Sunday pasta while I'm at school living off of dining hall food. On a more serious note though, through all of my struggles and the not-so-funny times, you were still always right there to remind me that I am beautiful and important and capable. Those words resonate with me every single day and I don’t think I would be where I am today without you. It's like you know exactly what to say or do to make me feel better or get me to open up, despite the fact my stubborn nature gets in the way of that sometimes. I truly hope to be at least half the woman you are someday.

Dad, thank you for always having a delicious meal on the table every single night. Many people are shocked when I tell them that I have a parent who cooks every night, and are even more shocked when they learn that we all eat as a family. I am so thankful for the fact that you always made us sit at the table together, phones away, giving us the opportunity to talk about our day or debate about politics. Thank you for driving me to every single practice, game, friend’s house, and movie that I’ve ever wanted to go to. With mom being at work most of the time, you had to make sure Jack and I got everywhere we needed to be and I truly do not know how you did it. You were always the dad at every lacrosse game with the portable heater, blankets, and extra jackets and gloves to keep everyone warm. More than just my dad, you are my best friend. You have always encouraged me to reach for the stars and remind me all the time that you will always do anything you can to help me fulfill my dreams, while simultaneously being practical about every situation. Long family car rides would not be the same without all of us belting “Pepino, the Italian Mouse” or whatever other Lou Monte song you play because it reminds you of Pa and your childhood. Thank you for the countless bottles of pepper spray and portable flashlights you bring home for me to make sure I’m safe when you’re not around to protect me (even though I’d much rather have you there to do the protecting). Even though I pretended like I didn't, I could see you tearing up every time we talked about college and the fact that I'm going to be off on my own pretty soon. But don't worry, I have a pretty amazing dad who has taught me everything I could possibly need to know when it comes to safety and making smart decisions.

I could not be more proud to be your daughter and I love you both with everything I have. Even on our worst days, in the midst of our biggest arguments, that will never ever change. I will always be your little girl.

Love,