An Open Thank You Letter to my Parents

Dear mom and dad,

I am moving out, which is sad, but we all know it's because you guys have done an amazing job, you really have. I mean, not to brag, but you lucked out with how amazing I am. Not only have you taught me countless lessons, but you've made sure I had a good character and you installed important values. You made sure I stayed on the right side of the tracks and you made sure I was safe. You did your job at raising me and although I will always need you, I wanted to say thanks.

So thank you,

Thank you for teaching me how to walk

Thank you for teaching me how to read in two languages

Thank you for soothing me when I was afraid of an impending fire and nightmares

Thank you for making me pancakes every Sunday

Thank you for baking even if you didn't like it

Thank you for driving me to every practice, every recital, and every school function

Thank you for hemming my pants

Thank you for fixing my itchy dance costumes

Thank you for saying my art work was nice, even when it wasn't

Thank you for bringing me gifts home when you went on business trips

Thank you for drilling things together and fixing everything I break

Thank you for brining me camping

Thank you for buying me a dog

Thank you for buying me every Barbie under the sun

Thank you for letting me run yard sales and teaching me the value of a dollar at 5

Thank you for caring about my health

Thank you for brining me to Disney World and Land

Thank you for throwing me birthday parties well past an appropriate age

Thank you for sitting with me while I did my homework

Thank you for getting me a tutor when you could no longer help

Thank you for teaching me how to ski and play golf

Thank you for allowing me to get to know my grand-parents, aunt and uncles, and cousins; they all live over Canada so it's nice you made an effort to visit.

Thank you for letting me pick out my own clothes and dealing with my tamper tantrums

Thank you for putting me in every sport and never stoping until I found one I liked

Thank you for raising me up when the kids at school bullied me

Thank you for installing confidence when I needed it

Thank you for stepping in when I got too stressed

Thank you for dealing with my teenage attitude and nipping it in the bud

Thank you for not letting me quit my job at Canadian Tire

Thank you for moving when I was 14, it allowed me to learn and grow

Thank you for paying for my university degree

Thank you for letting me learn on my own terms

Thank you for making me quit competitive dance and let me join leadership activities

Thank you for letting me stay at home while I did my degree

Thank you for teaching me the value of good character and that money isn't everything

Thank you for making me laugh

Thank you for always being there for me

Thank you for always loving me

Thank you for being supportive

Thank you for providing for me

Thank you for teaching me

Thank you for everything you do for me on a daily basis

You are some of the most amazing people and I will miss seeing you daily, but I have grown so much and now it's time to see me live on my own and see your work shine. I'll always need you and I will always come visit, but you've done an amazing job at raising me and I just wanted you to know how incredibly grateful I am.

I love you so much,

Samantha