Dear (Step) Dad,
I still remember the first time we met. I was only four years old when my mom brought you home and introduced us, but I think it's safe to say that we took to each other pretty quickly. You were everything that we needed and could ever want. Heck, you still are. When you told me that you wanted to marry my mom and asked for my permission, I was ecstatic. You even let me help set up the proposal. For the wedding, you even gave me an engraved locket that I still have to this day.
To be perfectly honest, I never really thought of you as my step dad. Even on the first day I met you, I never treated you any differently. I guess I kind of knew that you were the right one for my mom to marry, so I just accepted you as my dad. Aside from my grandpa, you were the only man I ever knew in my life. In my eyes, you were my dad, even if biology didn't say so.
The day we went to the courthouse to officially sign the paperwork for the adoption, our little family was over the moon with joy. You were officially my dad! We took a picture with the judge and everything. It was January 9th, 2003. We still refer to that day as our "anniversary," because that was the day that you and I officially became family. For the last 12 years, you've given me flowers or gifts on that day, and we always make sure to give each other a call.
(I know my style choices weren't the best back then. Cut me a little slack, it was the early 2000s...)
Things haven't always been the best between us, I'll admit that. We fight over pointless things, just like any other father and daughter. We disagree about anything from what to have for dinner to who should be president. At the end of the day, though, we're always on the same side, and I could never tell you enough how grateful I am for the loving relationship that we have.
I know I don't say it nearly enough, but thank you. Thank you for always being the loudest person on the sidelines at all of my sporting events (okay, maybe Mom was a little bit louder than you), and thank you for always being my biggest fan. Thank you for the countless hours you spent coaching my soccer teams and putting up with our annoying pre-teen antics. Thank you for putting faith in me and believing that I could be successful in any field I decided to study.
And, most importantly, thank you for being my dad and not just a step dad. The choice to adopt me was yours. With that decision, you changed my life forever, and you changed my life for the better. I could never thank you enough for everything that you have done and continue to do for me.
Love, your (step) daughter
