I remember very clearly the moment I realized my parents are divorced.

I had moved to a new town and someone in the church I was attending noticed my step dad was, in fact, my step dad and not my biological dad. They approached my mother and me with cheerful intentions and said:

"For being a product of divorced parents, your daughter is very well-kept and very respectful. That's not something you see around here – you know when they are of the divorced life."

My parents split before I was 2 years old. My dad remarried when I was 5 years old, and my mom remarried when I was 15 years old. I've been beyond blessed to have two sets of parents raise me. But not everyone understood why I was so content with having divorced parents. I heard many times that I'd need to be careful because I could end up divorcing my future husband and that I won't be committed to a relationship because of it. I've learned valuable lessons from both sides of my family, and none of them involve how to not be committed.

I learned respect.

My parents respected one another and were always civil. I learned that no matter how much you may not like someone, you should always respect them.

I learned appreciation.

My step parents taught me to appreciate the things my parents did for me and I learned through that to appreciate that my step parents were there for my biological parents.

I learned to be humble.

Not everyone has parents who were as civil with each other. I had friends whose divorced parents lived 30 minutes from one another and they hardly ever saw the other one.

I learned to laugh.

My step mom taught me that mistakes are made, rules are there to be broken and it's okay to have a one-person dance party to "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" when you're having a bad day.

I learned to not procrastinate.

My step dad taught me if I don't get something done when it's due, it'll never get done. Not procrastinating, organization and punctuality are important skills to have. He also taught me how to properly polish and clean a sink.

I learned to love the little things.

My dad taught me that it's okay to shut your phone off, walk away from the computer and unplug the TV to enjoy the little things in life. Sometimes, it helps you answer some looming questions.

I learned to communicate.

My mom taught me that communication and conversation can be some of the most powerful tools to success because relationships are important.

I learned to never back down.

My step sister, who I never actually reference as my "step" sister taught me not to ever let anyone make me feel like less of a person. She taught me to respect myself as a person and as a woman. I also learned the lyrics to several Blink 182 songs along the way.

I learned to love.

My parents and step parents all love me. They taught me that it doesn't matter if my family is separated or not – your family is your family and they love you through the good and the bad.

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More than anything – I learned that I am a "product of divorced parents."

But I learned that it is OK.

To the person who said they were surprised I was a "product of divorced parents" – I am the way I am because my parents taught me to be me, NOT because they are divorced.