A Thank You Letter to the 'Rents // From Their College Student

I am jealous. I am jealous of the people who live 15 minutes away from their parents. Try 4 hours and 49 minutes; 258 miles. You’re right, I didn’t have to go so far from my parents, but ultimately I needed it. While some students get to go home to their own kitchen for dinner every other night, I’m faced with the struggle of grocery shopping and cooking for myself. Let’s be honest, that rarely happens. While I miss my bed, the dishwasher, and shampoo that I don’t have to buy - I miss my parents the most. That being said, I think I need to take the time to thank my parents for some things that I just don’t appreciate enough.

Thanks for always putting me before you. - Thanks for answering my phone calls when you’re in meetings so I don’t wonder if something is wrong with you. Thanks for giving me the coupons when you could use them, too. Thanks for the countless times you drove me to school because I hated the bus. Thanks for making sure I have everything I need before you begin to worry about yourself.

Thanks for taking time off work to visit me. - Thanks for driving that 4 hours and 49 minutes just to spend a short 2 days with me. Thanks for taking time off to move me in, and spend most of that time with me being an ungrateful brat - sorry about that. Thanks for bringing my sister with you when you come because you know I miss her, too. Thanks for taking off work when I come in town so you can spend time with me.

Thanks for being a shoulder to cry on. - Even when I’m across the state I can call you two crying and you will both take the time to comfort me until you’re sure I’m better. Thanks for listening to me complain about classes and activities. I know it’s hard for you two to hear me upset, but you don’t let me know that. You just care for me. You give me advice and you support me.

Thanks for allowing me the chance to receive a college education. - I know I wouldn’t be able to obtain this opportunity if it weren’t for you two. You both support me in my decision to go further away when I know you both would rather have me living down the hall. You never once questioned where the money was going to come from, even when I freak out about student loans and debt, you assure me that you’re both there to help me. Thanks for pushing me to reach my dreams and go beyond that. Thanks for forcing me to come back to school even when I’m loving being home for the weekend.

Thanks for being wonderful examples of love, perseverance, and dedication. - You two have no idea how much I look up to you both. The love you show each other and for me and my siblings is enormous. I can only hope to one day have a marriage as great as you two have. I’m sure you bickered when I was growing up, but you never did it in front of me. You two are the definition of relationship goals. As I have grown up I have watched both of you grow in your careers and achieve new goals, I could not be prouder. Thanks for the extensive dedication you both have to our family, your work, and each other.

How cute are they? 

Thanks for your patience. - I’ll never forget when we were moving me into my dorm, I was so frustrated with how small the room was that I was convinced that nothing was going to fit in here. I gave up quickly on attempting to figure out how to arrange the furniture. You helped me with my irrational decision of moving every single thing in the hall and then snapped me back into reality. In the end, the furniture was placed where it began. I’ll admit, I am a brat and I make some irrational choices from time to time, but you both work with me through it all. You don’t give up on me, and you let me learn my lessons.

Thanks for all the money. - I have mentioned that I wanted care packages before, but I have realized that I don’t need them. You throw some money into my account when I want to go out to eat but I refuse to because I’m a bit of a money clincher. You encourage me to go hang out with my friends and you give me the funds to do so. Thanks for the gas money and the grocery money from time to time. I understand that you guys don’t have to do any of this for me, but you continue to do so. I want you both to know that I’m always grateful for that, even when I forget to say so.

Thanks for all of the reassurance. - When I didn’t think my dream to come to Chattanooga was going to be possible, you both assured me that it was all going to be taken care of and that I would make it. When I want to come home for good, you both continue to push me. When I think I’m dying, you assure me that nothing is wrong with me.

Thanks for always providing for me. - There isn’t a time that I can remember that you two didn’t give me what I needed, that’s because that time has never existed. You may not give me what I want all the time, but you provide me with my needs and that’s what matters. You may tell me something that I don’t want to hear, but I need to hear it. I may not agree with all of the decisions you two make, but I realize that your decisions are the best; way better than mine. Thanks for driving me to the hospital at 10PM when I’m screaming in pain and sitting with me in the ER waiting room for hours, but not being embarrassed when I’m bawling in public. Thanks for staying up with me all night in the hospital just make sure I’m okay. Thanks for paying those bills, too.

Thanks for loving me. - I cannot thank you enough for the love you give me. I know that it will never end, and I am certain that I have the best parents in the world. You don’t give up on me when I’ve given up on myself. You snap me back into reality when I need it most. You continue to love me when I consider myself unloveable. You two never stop, and for that, I am forever grateful.

I love you two more than I could ever say. Once again, thanks for everything you do for me.