To my boyfriend's parents,

I just wanted to say that I know I probably didn't make a great first impression, and I am sure you've had some bad thoughts about me. I was quiet and awkward (and still am at times, and I am working on that) and I am trying my best to still impress you--I still get nervous about it. I know I am not much of a people person because I tend to be bad in social situations (and I am working on that too). But you should know that I wrote this to you because I care.

This is a thank you for raising your son the way you have. For teaching him to respect women, teaching him to be so generous, and teaching him how to be a gentlemen (even if he's a pain sometimes).

Thank you for letting me stay at your house, feeding me a lot, and taking me along to places. Thank you for always giving me such thoughtful, amazing gifts, and for everything you have ever done for me, and still do, even when I am gone.

Here are a few things I've learned about you and from you through your son:

Family Over Everything

Although he can be a bit of a handful sometimes, I can tell how much his family means to him. He always loves to stop by the house and just talk, to sit down and eat dinner, to spend time at home and bond. It reminds me of how important family is, to be together, and love each other and to never take them for granted.

Dedication and Commitment

When it comes to things like running and music, he gives his all, his 110 percent, and doesn't look back. He has passion and drive and determination to be the best he can be. He works hard and he cares, and his effort shows not only with those things, but the effort he makes in the relationship as well.

Trust

Trust is hard for anyone, but he has earned mine in all ways possible. Thank you for teaching him to not be deceptive, to mean his word, to be honest. It goes a long way not only in our relationship, but any relationship he will ever encounter.

Believing in Him (and in Us)

A thank you for believing in his dreams, his goals, his ideas. Going to his cross country meets, his track meets, and supporting him. For believing in us and the long distance. Because through that, he has my back and is there for me. He gives me strength and takes away my doubts; he gives unending support for what I want to do. He believes in me.

Stress Less

With him being so carefree, it has kind of rubbed off on me as time goes on. He knows how to laugh at himself and make the best of a bad situation. If something isn't going as planned he always looks for the positive, and now I do too, more so than I ever did before. He might not always be serious when he should be, but his way of not stressing over the little things is something more people need to be doing. Thank you for bringing up such an easy person to be around.

Patience

(And I know it doesn't always show, haha!) But he really is filled with patience, even when I'm being difficult for no reason or indecisive. He knows when to give people space and just be patient as they cool down. He is OK with waiting and with me when I'm being irrational and completely ridiculous.

A Smile Goes a Long Way

One thing I can always count on him for is to put a smile on my face. I could be in the worst mood, but he never fails to somehow make me laugh. He is extremely funny and uses his humor for good. He can lighten a mood or break the ice in any kind of situation, and that is a quality everyone needs to have. Thank you for raising him with a comical side.

Generosity

Of all the lessons I have learned from him, this is the greatest of them all. Of course sometimes he is a mooch, and convinces me to buy him B-dubs (because he is almost too good with persuasion and sales), but he actually is one of the most generous people I know. Before he had a job and was getting paid every two weeks, it wasn't easy to go out to eat all the time, or see a movie, or whatever it was that we wanted to do. I paid for things (which I didn't mind because I think the girl should pay sometimes too!) a lot of the time when I could. But through all of that, if I really wanted something he was sure to get me it. He might not have had anything, but he gave me everything. And now, with his job, he spoils me rotten and I have to tell him to stop.

Thank you for raising your son the way you have. Thank you for bringing him up well. Thank you for everything.

Lastly, thank you for letting me date your son.