To the parents who have had to play both mom and dad,

There aren't enough words to explain how grateful, appreciative, and honored we are to have you in our lives. You have shown us strength, tenacity, resilience, and many more amazing qualities to embody. You gave us hope that one day we can turn out to be half as amazing as you are; you gave us the might to fight through every battle we have faced; you taught us how to persevere in times of struggle; and most importantly, you taught us to love when we thought that the world had none left for us. I start this letter by saying "we" and "us" to speak on behalf of the thousands who have unfortunately experienced this at a young age with me--whether it was from a divorce, a loss, or anything in between. I am not sharing my story for sympathy, but to shine light on my wonderful father because, in my eyes, he is Superman.

Have Your Voice Heard: Become an Odyssey Creator

At the age of 5, my entire life changed in just one day; I went from being a normal kid playing kickball and tag outside with the neighborhood kids, to driving back and forth with my family to visit my mother in the hospital. She was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma at the age of 46, and her battle only lasted for eight months. It saddens me to say that, towards the end, I was scared of my own mother. When I would walk into her hospital room, I would hide behind my father. The woman who was once my fun, energetic, loud, crazy, Italian mother, soon became a woman who was dominated by this terrible disease. And after all of the ups and downs throughout her journey, she was relieved on July 14, 2002. My father does not allow me to remember her by her suffering, so I have repressed those memories by listening to the amazing stories people share with me.

Throughout all of this, my dad was my rock. He kept it together when my brother and I couldn't. He made sure that we always felt like we had security and closure. He played mom and dad for the milestones in our lives. He was there for my first period; the first time I shed a tear over a boy; the first time I needed a bra; the first time I wanted to try out makeup; essentially, he was there for all the the first times I also needed my mother for. He played both parts. He made sure that I grew up to be strong, independent, and brave. But, he still treated me like I was Daddy's little princess. I feel as if I have taken him for granted time and time again, but in the end, I know how truly lucky I am to have him in my life.

On behalf of the thousands who share a similar story: we cannot thank you enough for being there, playing both mom and dad, and for teaching us how to love unconditionally.

Thank you.