We have passed Thanksgiving, a time of being thankful for everyone around you, but it is still the holiday season so writing something to thank two very special people in my life seemed necessary.

Growing up you always expect this life with two parents, one home and a golden retriever or something…that is the "perfect life"…right? After thinking that and then realizing that was not true through my parent's divorce I did not know what to expect. When I turned fourteen both my parents got remarried, did I expect that? Absolutely not. Was it one of the best things to ever happen? Absolutely.

Step parents always get this bad reputation, they are controlling or do not like you, they are want to be parents or want you out of the picture. When both my step parents came into my life I realized very quickly that neither or they wanted anything like that, in fact, all they wanted was to make my parents happy. After seeing the happiness they brought my parents how could I resent these people? They never did anything to me, if anything they just made my life easier.

I will start with thank you's to both of them.

To my stepdad, thank you for loving my mom the way you do. Thank you for listening to me and helping me through school and growing up. Thank you for helping me when I backed into the garage door, and when mom was getting on my nerves. Thank you for singing and dancing with me and making me laugh whenever you could. Thank you for attending all my school events. Thank you for acknowledging that my dad is a huge part of my life and not trying to take his place. Thank you for making fun of me, buying me great Christmas gifts and being someone who loves me. But most importantly thank you for taking me in and treating me like your own, when in reality you really never had to.

To my stepmom, thank you for loving my dad the way you do. Thank you for listening to my rants and talking makeup and clothes with me. Thank you for helping me buy gifts for dad, or choosing what eyeshadow to buy. Thank you for going on any adventure Dad and I dragged you on and taking all those pictures (you take a lot). Thank you for acknowledging my mom is a big part of my life and not attempting to take her place. Thank you for cooking my favorite meals when I came over, checking in daily no matter what was going on, and making sure everything was okay. And of course, as I stated above, thank you for taking me in when you never had to and treating me like your own.

Moving forward I do not tell you two enough but you mean the world to me.

You guys have made me realize that stepparents are not always bad people, you have made me realize that the more people who love you the better and you guys have shown me that just because I am not your blood never made me less important. You guys have been such vital parts of my upbringing and have become such vital parts of my life. I want you both to know you are appreciated more than you know, loved more than you know, and bigger parts of my life than you will ever know.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being the step parents who stepped up.

Love,

The kid you made feel like your own