I once read that a divorce takes place approximately every 36 seconds in the United States. This means that there are 2,400 divorces each day, 16,800 divorces each week, 74,400 divorces each month and 876,000 divorces each year. That's a lot of divorces if you ask me.

As of 2016, roughly 50 percent of marriages end in divorce, my parents' marriage included. Growing up with divorced parents wasn't as bad as the movies made it out to be, but it also wasn't always rainbows and butterflies either. Double the birthday and Christmas presents was definitely a plus though.

The initial shock factor that your family is being split into two was the worst part if you ask me. Once you get past the fact that you will now have two homes, two rooms, two closets and one parent in each home, you go on with your everyday life. Sure, it was a royal pain in the you know what having to lug things back and forth on Wednesday nights or every other weekend, but wouldn't you rather have one happy parent in each home, than two parents constantly fighting under the same roof? I know I would.

Having one parent in each household meant that my siblings and I had to step up to the plate and take on serious responsibilities at a young age. I didn't have any choice but to stay on top of my own school work, sports practices, work, etc., and I wouldn't have it any other way. I learned to do my own laundry, cook my own meals, take care of my younger siblings and pets, along with any other chores or favors my parents needed around the house. Growing up with divorced parents prepared me for the real world in ways that kids with married parents will never know, and molded me into the independent, hard-working person that I am today.

I definitely have something above those kids going into college who have never done a load of laundry or cleaned a toilet by themselves before, ha.

What I'm getting at, is the fact that having divorced parents isn't all that bad after all. When people find out that my parents are divorced and say, "Oh, I'm so sorry for you," I want to scream because I'm not sorry about it, and I don't need anybody else sorry for me either. My parents made the best decision for me and my family, and I am very appreciative for the examples they have set for me and my brothers. They are both very hard-working people and worked extremely hard to ensure that my siblings and I were provided with everything we needed and wanted - to a certain extent, just as kids with married families have.

I now know what true love isn't, and what I want to look for in my future husband some day. I also know that it's not "giving up on love," but choosing to do what is best for your family in the long run - and it was definitely best for my family.

So save your pity party for someone else, us kids of divorcees are here, and ready to take on the world!