My parents have always been there for me. They challenged me to be the best possible version of myself and picked me up when I was down. It may not be the ‘coolest’ thing to be friends with your parents, but heck, I love ‘em and enjoy spending time with them (even if I’d never admit it to them in person).

Going through my ‘angsty” teenage years, I acted as most teenagers do; I was distant, I felt embarrassed by them, I was an ungrateful snob. Looking back I realized how foolish I had been, what if I had lost one of them and that was how our relationship ended? Today my parents are like my best friends – sure there’s many things that I keep private from them, but they are always there to talk to. I love going home and just being in the presence of my family. My relationship with my parents is the best it has ever been. It’s an amazing thing to be friends with your parents, I feel more like their equal - yes they still act like parents, they offer their guidance, their support and they still take care of me, but there’s less pressure.

My father is the greatest man I know and one of my biggest inspirations. He started with next to nothing and worked his ass off to build and provide for his growing family. If there was anything we needed or wanted he always found a way to make it happen (within reason of course), and if it was something that was just impossible you could see the disappointment in his eyes. Even to this day, though I am away at school, he still does his best to make sure I’m taken care of and provided for. Hanging out with my dad is great. He’s taught me how to be handy and given me a wide array of skills I feel most people my age lack. Whether it’s building or assembling something, tiling or installing, or just simple car maintenance – I’m pretty well rounded and know my way around a toolbox.

My relationship with my mother was a bit rougher when I was younger, but that doesn’t change the love I have for her in my heart. Sure we used to butt heads a lot, but as I got older our relationship got better, I began to understand where she was coming from. She has taught me all of those practical things that one should know how to do. I can’t even believe how many kids come to college not knowing how to do their laundry, how to cleanup their garbage or food, and don’t even get me started on taking out the trash and doing their dishes. Granted I gained my love of cleaning through years of being forced to clean the house constantly, but now it’s therapeutic for me. Although I may not be no Bobby Flay, I know how to cook a decent meal for myself because of her.

Parents are supposed to provide you with the necessary tools to be able to survive. I might be a little biased, but I think they have done a pretty great job at raising my sisters and myself. Overall we’re generally pretty decent human beings.

Honestly I could not ask for better parents. I cherish every moment I spend with them, it may seem ‘lame’ for a twenty-two year old to be hanging out with her parents and family more than going out and partying but years from now I know that I won’t regret making those memories with my family – I love them and spending time with people you love is never a waste. I’m proud to call them my parents.

Thank you mom and dad for always being there for me, for always lending me a hand when I needed it, for teaching me responsibility, for giving me the skills I need to survive, and most importantly thank you for loving me even when I probably didn’t deserve it.

I love you mom and dad.