Parents: two loving adults in our lives that we love and get annoyed with simultaneously on a daily basis. That relationship most definitely exists between my parents and me. Even though we sometimes argue with each other about silly random things, words can’t even begin to express how much I appreciate their love and support for everything that I’ve pursued. They’re my rocks, rolling with the decisions I make and standing by me through everything. They manage to brighten my day, whether it’s a random card in the mail or a phone call while I’m working on homework.
For those who have met my parents, you know their personalities pretty much to a T. They never fail to make anyone laugh with their stories and experiences, giving generously to anyone without any kind of second thought, and welcoming anyone that they encounter. But seriously, my friends know my parents through the hilarious stories that I tell about them that I could never dream of fabricating. They joke that the reason that they married each other was because “one was desperate and the other was breathing, so it works” (you can probably guess which one was which…). The stories that they tell about their friends, family, and each other never cease to amaze me; their senses of humor are truly unique, and that component makes them very entertaining. If you know my parents, you can most definitely attest to this.
I know I’m not the only one who can talk about how much I love my folks and greatly appreciate all that they do for me. We recognize how thankful we are for the big things that they do, whether it may be helping out to contribute to college finances or being the shoulder to cry on when we’re stressed about exams and group projects. It’s also important to recognize how the little things that they do make an impact on us, especially when we’re away from home for long periods of time. I know that I may not say it all the time, but I can’t thank my parents enough for the seemingly-minute actions they do just to try to put a smile on my face.
Random cards throughout the year; Valentine’s Day care packages (single life perks); +1 hour long conversations talking about our days, sports, what kinds of things Dad did to have Mom shake her head; and life in general. Sending +50 e-mails about job opportunities within an hour was stressful to go through every single listing, but extending a hand to help out means the world to me. Visiting on parents’ weekends and entertaining my friends and me is something that I’ll always treasure. Playing board games and card games answering hilarious questions and debating who was really right has been an absolute blast. Letting me attend different games and praying that we don’t get into another fight in the stands (long story), we end up reminiscing on memories and laugh until our six-pack abs peek through. It’s the little things that are noticeable.
Make sure you tell your parents you love them. After arguing, long or short conversations, receiving surprising mail, anything. They have done so much out of love for you; take a moment out of your day to say thanks. Even though we may be geographically separated from each other, our emotional bond has never been closer. Thank you, for everything. I love you.