It’s funny how things workout sometimes. When I was in highschool, I couldn’t wait to get my parents off my butt and move to college, but now here I am, missing their constant nagging…mostly because I don’t see it as that anymore.

In those moment, the moments where they wouldn’t let me do something and I thought they hated me, or where they were lecturing me about things and I thought it was pointless, I now realize that they were just, well, being really good parents.

Looking back at my rebellious years, I wish I could’ve took what my parents said more seriously, listened to them a little (or maybe a lot) more, and understood that they were doing this for me, not their own twisted reasons out of the enjoyment of punishing

Coming to college, I realized I miss my parents (and my dogs) more than anything. I regret not spending enough time with them and not valuing their advice as much as I should’ve, especially when I was younger.

So here is an open letter to my parents:

Mom, Dad, Thank you for raising me right. Thank you for investing 18 years of your life into making me into who I am today, and thank you for despite my rebellious years, not giving up on me. I couldn’t be any more thankful for all that ya’ll have done for me, and all the love ya’ll have given me that I can now pour into others.

Dad, thank you for showing me how a women should be treated. Thank you for buying us roses every valentines day, taking us out on the dates of our choice, telling us you love us everyday, and working so hard for our family.

Thank you for teaching me to always look at the glass half full, and find the good in every situation. Thank you for passing down to me your free spirit, your full of life personality, and your famous cheesy jokes. Thank you for believing in and supporting me in everything I do, and helping guide me through it.

Mom, Thank you for putting your heart and soul into our family, and for your willingness to sacrifice anything for us. Thank you for the best hugs in the world, the best advice, and the best grilled cheese sandwiches. Thank you for taking care of me whenever I’m not okay.

Most of all, thank you for showing me how to love, how to be kind, and what true beauty looks like. Your smile is priceless, and you bring joy into my life everyday. You are the most humble, kindhearted, and genuine person I know and for that I will always look up to you and strive to be the woman you are.

My one regret is wishing I had realized how good I had it earlier. If I had just listened a little harder, looked around a little more, and opened my mind a little wider, but I guess that’s just life, and you don’t realize what’s in front of you into your life shifts into a new phase.

Part of me aches to be back home everyday, because more than anything I miss coming home to you guys. Part of me is scared for my life being on my own without yall, day by day conquering new experiences and maturing a little more, but the other part of me know that it’s okay.

Ya’ll spent 18 years of your life pouring into me amazing advice, life skills, and endless love, and I dig for that everyday to get me through this whole adult thing.

I miss ya’ll. I love Ya’ll, and I cherish ya’ll more than anything. It seems like theres never enough time for the people you love, and I wish I could see ya’ll more, but one thing ya’ll always taught me is it isn’t about the amount of time, it’s about the quality of time.

Thank you for the amazing human beings ya’ll are, and the amazing parents ya’ll have been to me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you guys.

Love,

Your Middle Daughter