Dear Mom and Dad,

Dear mom and dad,

I can’t begin to tell you how much you’ve both impacted my life. You’ve both loved me, you’ve cared for me, and you always tried to do what you felt was best for me. I’m the person who stands here today because of how much you’ve both done to raise me. And let me just begin by telling you both how I feel: thank you, so much.

Thank you both for taking care of me and loving me as I was growing up. I’ve heard many stories about how fussy of a baby I was, and neither of you had to put up with that. Instead, you held me when I cried, you nurtured me when I needed it, and you never thought for a moment that it wasn’t worth it to have me– no matter how hard it was. Even though I have no memories of this time, I feel aware that that’s what happened, because all my earliest memories of you are happy ones. All I knew at that time was how much I trusted you both and how loved and cared for I felt. There’s no way in the world I would feel that unless you were both kind and gentle people.

And all the memories I made after that confirmed those feelings. There was never a doubt in my mind that I was loved by you both. And as I grew older, you both wanted to teach me how to be a nice person too. You both taught me my manners and how to treat people with respect. I would not be as kind of person I am today without such amazing role models.

Thank you both for always holding me accountable, because that’s what has made me grow as a person. You both taught me responsibility – some days it was easy, but other times you both had to be tough on me. There were times when I tried to be sneaky and cunning, when I tried to take the easy way out of my responsibilities. But you both made sure that I did my chores and my homework the right way.

And because of that, I now feel like I am ready for the whatever the world has in store for me. You both prepared me for my education, you’ve both prepared me for my job, you’ve even prepared me to have my own family one day. And one day, I will be able to teach my own children all the lessons I learned from the two of you.

Dad, you are my rock and my strength. You taught me how to stand up tall and be confident in myself. Without you, I never would have had the confidence to try so many things that ended up improving my life. I grew as much as I did because of that strength you passed onto me.

Mom, you were always there for me when I needed someone I could confide in. I feel like I can talk to you about anything, and you will be gentle, understanding, yet fair at the same time. Because of that, you give the best advice. I feel like I am as wise as I am just because I have this little voice in my head that gives me advice, and it sounds exactly like you.

I am the person I am today because of my two wonderful parents who raised me. You two were my first teachers, the first people in my life I trusted and loved, and the best parents I could have asked for. You are both my heroes.

I love you both, please take care!

You child, Ty