Mom? Dad? It has taken me nearly twenty years to say this, but I feel you need to know the truth.

You were right.

I may have fought you tooth and nail every time you told me no, but looking back for as long as I can remember, you knew what you were talking about. For every "no" I know you saved me from so many things that I couldn't have seen coming. What you were denying me from doing wasn't really all that important. It could have been from dating someone, going on a road trip, or spending money on something I really didn't need.

As I've grown and started developing the freedom to make my own choices, you still give much needed advice, and while I don't always take it, it is always appreciated. And even with all you've taught me over the years, I will still inevitably crash and burn. On those occasions, I can usually think back to a great life moment when you had shot down a whim that I had had that would have led to this exact situation, and once the stress of recalculating my life is passed, I sit and shake my head, thankful for you as parents.

This in no way means I will begin to take your advice all the time, because let's face it, I'm in college and I'm stubborn. Part of growing into the functional adult you have worked to raise is going to be making life mistakes. And they are never pretty. And every time I fail I'll call and be sure we have a good laugh about my general idiocy. Thank you for always having my back when I fail and doing everything you can to help me up again. I cannot express how much I appreciate and value you.

The frustration I had with you from constantly being told I couldn't go certain places, or that I shouldn't be around certain influences seems like a much smaller issue. You both have raised someone that was able to go out on her own and start her own life. With every life lesson you have helped to mold me into someone that can make it. Thanks to who you are and the rules you imposed while I was growing up, I am making choices and pursuing opportunities that are giving me so much of a head start.

You made so much of who I am and what I'm doing possible by simply saying no.