Everyone needs a role model and I have two.

When I was a kid, I was totally disgusted by my parents. They kissed each other in front of me and my siblings. How dare they? Didn’t they know that kind of behavior was absolutely intolerable and completely indecent?

All courtesy of my seven-year-old brain, of course.

My mom and dad made it clear to us from the start that they loved each other. They would regularly have date nights (and leave us with cool college student babysitters). They kept their photo album from their wedding out and within reach, and I remember going through the pages of it often.

My parents are celebrating their 23^rd anniversary this month and being away from home makes me realize the things I need to say to them that I haven’t, for whatever reason.

Thank you.

Thank you for letting me snuggle in between you in the middle of the night because I had a bad dream. It told me you would always be there for me. Thank you for letting me take one “mental health” day from school per year. It told me that school was important, but my mental health would always come first. Surprisingly, it also made skipping school in high school undesirable. Thank you for our family movie nights on Friday nights when we would eat popcorn and Milk Duds because they were dad’s favorite, and Whoppers, because they were mom’s favorite. This is the reason why I can impress my friends with my extensive knowledge of movie quotes. But it’s also the reason why I know taking time out of your schedule for family is important.

Thank you for answering the phone when I call you with stupid questions like how to fry an egg or how to start the lawnmower. Thank you for surprising me by sending little gifts when I call about how I never get mail.

Mom, thank you for showing me how cool moms can be. Dad, thank you for picking out the song we’ll dance to at my wedding way too far in advance.

Thank you for being the coolest parents I know.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry you had to give me a bucket every time I had a stomach bug until I was like 15. I should’ve figured out how to make it to the toilet way before then. I’m sorry I could get really passive aggressive and moody and hide out in my room for the rest of the night if something upset me. I’m sorry I cheated in Life by folding the cards of the career and house I really wanted. I just wanted to live in a log cabin.

Dad, I’m sorry I went through like 10 years of not hugging you back. I promise to always hug you back from now on. Mom, I’m sorry I didn’t help around the house. I was the oldest, I should’ve been doing dishes or cooking dinners more often.

I’m sorry I didn’t say I love you more.

I love you.

I love that my friends all say I have really cool parents. It’s because I do. You’re my best friends and my role models. Your relationship with each other is everything that I want my future marriage to be. You love each other and it’s so glaringly obvious. You’ve wrapped our family around your faith and your love.

I hope you always sing off key and dance in the kitchen.

I’ll always be your little girl.