Dear Boyfriend,

I want you (and everyone else) to know that I appreciate you because:

1. You are my personal doctor.

When I’m sick, you’re by my side trying to help me recover; making me take that awful cough medicine I don’t want to take and making sure I’m comfortable. You also play with my hair – which makes everything better.

2. You understand my need for sleep.

Some call it lazy (you), some call it necessary (me). But in the end, you know it’s crucial for me to nap so I don’t turn into a grump. Also, I can text you saying that I am exhausted, and when I get to your house, you have my spot ready for me to snuggle into. A word of advice, people: find a man who supports those sleep comas!!

3. You know it’s best to eat NOW before someone turns "hangry".

Yes, I'll admit it is me that usually turns into the "hangry" one, and you understand that when it hits that level of “I DON’T CARE WHERE WE GO!” the situation is serious. You never misinterpret my “hanger” for anything more than it is – or hold a grudge against me for my temporary insanity caused by malnutrition. I swear, I think the Snickers “you’re not you when you’re hungry” commercials were made about us!

4. You motivate me to be a better me.

When I want to give up, you remind me why I should keep going. You open my eyes and remind me of my goals, always encouraging me to stay focused. You tell me to keep the wind at my back or “you’ve got this”, and that keeps me going when I feel like I can’t. I can call you and whine, whether for a minute OR for 30 minutes, and you always listen. And you usually manage to turn my negative thoughts into positive ones. You’re my rock, and you truly bring out the best in me.

5. You’re proud of me – and you make sure I know it.

Sometimes we all just need to hear “I’m proud of you.” I know that the successes we achieve in life should be for our OWN fulfillment and satisfaction, but sometimes it’s good for us to hear praise from those who love us – it helps us to keep striving for our goals and it makes us feel supported. When school is tough and I want to just give up, you remind me how hard I’ve worked – and that you’re proud of me. When I can’t run that extra mile (literally), you remind me of my limits, tell me to take my time and pace myself, and that you’re proud of me whether the extra mile happens or not. At least once a week I receive an encouraging “I’m so proud of you” text, which makes me want to work harder. And by the way, I’m proud of you too!

6. Lazy date nights.

We have date nights where we dress up and go to a fancy dinner, which I love. BUT we have lazy date nights, too, which honestly makes me appreciate you (and us) most. I love that we can lie around and do nothing – and be perfectly content. And it amuses me that I can “binge watch” a Netflix show that you have no interest in - and by the end of the night, you’re hooked too!

7. You think I’m beautiful.

I can tell you 100 times how ugly I feel, and you’ll tell me 200 times how beautiful I am. Even I can have a zit the size of Mt. Everest on my face, you’ll make a joke out of it – which lets me know that you embrace my flaws.

8. You love your mom.

The old saying, “Find a man who treats you the way he treats his mom,” is truthful. This is what I appreciate most about you. I love the way you love your mom and the way you treat her. You’re never disrespectful to her. You understand her value, and your relationship with her has shaped how you treat women in general (especially me!). She raised you right!

I’m usually not “mushy”, I know - and certainly, never publicly. But you are important to me, and I want you (and everyone else) to know some of the specific reasons that I appreciate you so much. You are good for me and to me, and I’m grateful.

Now, let's go get donuts…I’m starving!