"So much of me is made of what I learned from you...."

For endlessly sacrificing...

I know it isn't always easy raising kids but everything you've had to give up you've given up so willingly. Countless times you've lost sleep or have had to spend your only day off driving me where I needed to be. You've sat through dance recitals, sports games, productions, and competitions time and time again and have done so with a smile on your face. You've brought my overpriced school fundraisers to work just so I could sell enough to win prizes. You've encouraged every new sport, club, or hobby I wanted to try and have never stopped supporting me.

For going along with all of my phases...

I've gone through many cringe-worthy phases in my life yet you've been right by my side letting me ride them out. There were probably many times you thought to yourself "What the hell are you wearing?" And although you knew I was going to outgrow all the Webkinz, silly bands, and clothes covered in sequence I so earnestly begged you for, you bought them anyway, sometimes probably not even knowing what you were even buying as long as it shut me up and made me happy.

For teaching me...

You have taught me more than I could ever learn out of a textbook. You have taught me that everyone has different backgrounds and to always be accepting of others and to keep an open mind. You have taught me to embrace everything that makes me different than others. You have taught me to always see inside people and to see the good in every situation. You make sure to always push me to be the best I can be but remind me that life is short and sometimes I don't need to take it so seriously. You have taught me to always go after what I want and that being happy is far more important than any amount of money.

For never leaving my side...

You have stayed with me through all of my failures. Growing into the person I am has required some mess ups every now and then. There have been times I've done things that haven't made you proud but you have never stopped loving me. You made me aware that my mess ups were only bad choices and that didn't deem me as a bad person.

For supporting me...

You have taught me compassion, generosity, loyalty, and love. You have always made sure I know my worth and never question myself. You have been my biggest supporters and greatest support team and I just wanted to take this time to let you know how appreciated you are and while it wasn't easy, you did a really good job. When I'm older and grow into exactly the person I'm supposed to be, I want you to take pride knowing that it was your love, your support, and your lessons, that got me there. Your entire lives have been devoted to making sure we were happy and for that, I owe you everything.