Growing up, I remember going to school and hearing other kids say how much they hate their moms boyfriends. Or that they didn't like the new man that their mother married after a divorce or parent separation. All I could think was how? But I realize I was so beyond lucky to have the step dad that I had. More of a parent than some parents are to their biological kids. I never thought of him as a step anything. He was my dad. My second dad that is. What was better about him is he chose me. He didn't have to take care of me, he chose to.

When I needed a shoulder to cry on he was there. He was there when I tripped over my blanket at 3 years old and cut my head open and was screaming and crying like a banshee. He was there for me at 5 years old when I was climbing the stairs to get on the school bus. He was one of the only family members to ever take a day off to chaperone a field trip. He made every chorus concert from 4th grade all the way through 12th grade. He was there when my first crush broke my heart and I needed the support. He took me to prom. He almost died with me while I was learning how to drive. Yelled at me like everyone's' father did when they were learning to parallel park. And then watched me walk across the stage at graduation.

The best part about having the relationship my stepdad and I have is I was chosen. Marcel fell in love with the 3 year-old me and decided to love me for the rest of my life. When I look back at my life I can never remember a time when Marcel and I did not get along. Not only does Marcel have me to show for, that he raises great kids. But he's also responsible for the creation that is my baby brother. My brother is Marcel's biological baby but we were never treated differently. When I look at my future I want my step father to walk me down the isle at my wedding. I want my children to be able to look at him as their grandfather. I know that if I am ever in a single mom situation I will be so picky because of the step father that I had. I had more than a stepdad however; I had a chauffeur, teacher, therapist, superhero, best friend, but most of all a second father.

I appreciate everything he does and has done for me these past 19 years. I can only hope to be half the parent he is. So thank you,Marcel. Thank you for coming into my life. Thank you for choosing me. You didn't have to care about me at all. But you did. And for that I will be forever grateful.