You have raised me from the beginning. You gave me everything I could possibly need and want. You were there for my successes and failure, my tears and my laughter. You created a home for me, a place I could feel safe and happy. You held my hand until I was ready to let go. We have had our ups and downs. There were days I was annoyed with you and there were days I never wanted to leave you.

Now that I have moved out, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for everything. Thank you for teaching me how to provide for myself. Thank you for teaching me how to take care of a place. To make a home instead of a house. Thank you for teaching me how to cook, so I'm not ordering out every night. Thank you for teaching me how to love so I'm not a hermit, watching Netflix by myself every day. Most importantly, thank you for loving me unconditionally.

We all knew the day would come when I would leave the nest. Things are a bit weird now that I have left. I'll wake up and still expect to be in my old room. I still feel sad some days, because I miss you. The holidays are going to be different. Instead of waking up and smelling the food, I will have to drive over there. I may even miss a few celebrations with you because there are other people who want my presence. That doesn't mean I regret my decision. I'm happy to finally be showing my independence. And I could only do it because you prepared me for this.

I'm still going to talk to you. This isn't goodbye forever. If I can't make it on Christmas, I'll still remember to call you on that day. I'll always remember your birthday and I will make sure to do something, even if I can't see you. I'll make sure you know what is going on in my life. You won't be in the dark. You will be there for all of the big moments in my life.

I'm still going to need you around to help me. I might forget how to wash certain fabrics. I may want to make a recipe exactly like you did. I might need you to come kill a spider, since they always have and always will freak me out. Or, I might just need to talk to you or be near you. It's nice, knowing I can come back and enter your house without knocking. It will always be a place that I call home. And I will always want you to come over to my place and see what I have done with what you taught me. This is all because of you.

Someday, I'm going to have a family of my own. A loving spouse and a few children. I want them all to know the happiness living in my house that I knew living in yours. I want to show them the same love that you showed me. I want a marriage like yours, loving and caring. You both need each other, but you still have your own lives. I want to push my kids to succeed like you pushed me. Not too hard, but enough that they find their potential. And when the time comes for them to leave, I want them to be ready. I want them to miss me, but they know they will be okay. I want them to know, that no matter what they do or where they go, or how old they are, I will always be there whenever they need me, just as you are for me.

Love forever,

Your child