Dear Mom and Dad,

This is my absolute best to thank you for the greatest 20 years of my life, well at least trying to. So, here it goes.

From day one you gave me the greatest gift in the entire world, and I’m not talking about just life itself, but love. Many kids did not get the opportunity to grow up knowing they always had someone by their side. They were not able to look over at the sidelines at a soccer game and see a mom jumping out of her seat and a dad running down the sidelines cheering for them as they scored a goal. They were not welcomed by a hug and dinner ready for them the second they walked in the door from a long day of school, work, and 3 hours of water polo practices. Some are not even lucky enough to be able to call someone mom and dad.

So, this is why I am writing to you, to thank you for all the times I forgot to say it. For all the times you bent over backwards to give me everything I needed. To the times you worked 2 jobs and worked weekends so that I could have the best life. You are the two most selfless people I have ever met and I hope that one day I can come close to being like you two.

To the sleepless nights you had stressing about my problems, to the nights you stayed up all night taking care of me when I ate too many sweets and had a tummy ache, and to the millions of hugs, kisses, and I love you’s that I always needed.

Thank you mom and dad for raising me to always be respectful, kind, and humble to every person I met despite who they were. Thank you for teaching me not to judge others and to find the beauty in all. Thank you for pushing me even when I did not want it. Thank you for being at every soccer game, water polo game, and swim meet, (and for all the gas you probably used). Thank you for welcoming my friends with open arms as if they were family. Thank you for giving me two amazing brothers and a beautiful sister, and most of all thank you for being you.

The love I see between the two of you despite the extremely challenging and hopeless times you and our family has faced, is incredible. You have never failed to show me what real love is, and because of that I was able to find the one my heart loves.

Thank you for always knowing when to be a friend, a teammate, a teacher and when to be mom and dad. You two are my best friends and always will be.

I am not saying your quirks and personalities don’t drive me insane sometimes, but as days go on I find myself acting just like you two and I am perfectly fine with it because I’ve always wanted to be just like you, my heroes, my rock, my world.

There are not enough words to thoroughly thank you enough, but I hope this letter does some justice.

I love you with all my heart and I promise to take care of you two the way you’ve taken care of me as time goes on.

With love,

Cambria