To my second parents,

To start out, it feels weird to call you formally by Mr. and Mrs. since your daughter/son talks so much about you. At times I feel like you could be my own parents. I know and hear more about you than people I go to school with on a daily basis. But overall, I want to give you my thanks. Thank you for raising her/him to be everything that they are today. If you didn’t, I don’t know where I would be without them. Though you may not have recognized it then, you were forming your child to make friendships that can save lives. I cannot imagine what my life would be like without your child in it. I probably would have a hole in my heart until I met them later on in my life or, sadly, never met them at all. It was because of you that I am the person I am today. Friends shape each other whether we see it or not.

I would not be friends with your child if I didn’t think he/she was the best person on earth. You taught him/her lessons that even now I am still comprehending, and I'm learning to love them even more. You taught them to love someone in their darkest times and live with them in their brightest moments. You taught them that the world is a dangerous place but friends are able to be your nightlight to protect you from the monsters inside your head. You taught them to be free in themselves and share it amongst others. You taught them to be themselves and what more could I ask for? She/he is a great human being.

I also wanted to thank you for treating me like family. Even though I may have met you the for the first time years ago, you already had a seat at the dinner table waiting for me whenever I came over. You treat me to junk food at special events and buy something at every fundraiser that I happen to be doing that year. You yell at me like my own parents would if I do something wrong. Treating me like I am part of your family is what I need at certain points in my life. I need another family who does not judge, but rather understands that there are hard times. It's nice o know there is always a free bed open upstairs when I need it.

Thank you for being so accepting. You always have a choice to close the door yet whenever I return, it still stands wide open with a home-cooked meal on the table. Your child--though at times tells you how unappreciative they are of you--is wrong. During some late night talks they thank you for everything you do for them. They’ll get a bit emotional and thank you guys quietly, even though you can’t hear them from ten miles away. Even though it may not seem like your child loves you as much as they show you, they do. Believe me. And I love you too. I cannot thank you enough for going through the tiring and hard process of raising a child, but you did it with grade A marks. Your child has become a perfect friend and always will be because of you and all the lessons you taught them. So the next time you have an issue with my friend, come to me. I’ll either make fun of them with you or offer advice in times of trouble.

Thank you to the second set of parents in my life,

Your Child’s Grateful Friend