I’ve been incredibly fortunate enough to grow up with parents who have always been fully supportive of me- in everything that I’ve done.

Even now that I am hurdling towards 40, they still check in all the time to make sure that I’m safe, healthy and happy and they never forget to let me know how much they love me. I will be eternally thankful to have been brought up by two amazing who care so profoundly about their two children. My older brother and I are blessed.

I can’t imagine my life ever without them and I stick my head in the ground at the very thought of them not always being around. I only live half an hour away from them and we make a conscious effort to spend one day a week with each other (usual Sunday) and we talk on the phone or text most days…

There are weeks when I am so incredibly busy with work and the kids that I am unintentionally distant and I feel a huge guilt when these crazy days rear their heads.
I’ve been thinking about them a lot lately and started to panic, almost crumble if I don’t tell them everything I need to say before… well, that’s where I stick my head in the ground again.

So I am not going to focus on that, but rather focus on what I want to tell them today! Here goes…
 
Dear Mum and Dad,

I think about you every day
Even when I get manic, crazy busy- I’m always thinking about you. You pop into my head at least three times a day! I always have you on my mind. You are part of me.
More than you may ever know, I appreciate every single thing you have done for me.

I know I don’t say this enough, but thank you for everything – the big and the small.

The small things you both do for me don’t go unnoticed! I cherish every single act of kindness because I know you love me.

I love you to the moon and back.
I do my best to tell you often, but it is literally impossible to communicate how much I love the both of you. I am so blessed to have you as my folks- please never forget that.
I know how much you’ve sacrificed for me and D.

I appreciate how hard those sacrifices must have been for you.

Now that I am a mum, I know that having children means putting them before yourselves; it means putting their needs ahead of yours and always making decisions based on what’s best for them. I get that now, and am forever appreciative for what you went without, for me.

I am a better woman because I was given the two of you as parents.
I have you two to thank for the way I turned out: Strong willed, inquisitive and passionate. You two are forces of nature, and I adore your compassion, your strength and your kind hearts. I have learned so much from you. Without your teachings, I would not be who I am today.

I respect you.
I love you both as my parents, but, I want you to know how much I respect you as human beings too! You are the people I look up to the most; you are my heroes.

Sometimes I miss home.
I know I don’t live too far away, but I still feel homesick sometimes. I love family dinners in your house or just popping in for a cuppa. On the odd occasion I stay over, I love waking up the smell of our family home and all of the happy memories that conjures up! It was an incredibly happy house to grow up in.

I have nightmares about losing you.
I know that none of us will be around forever and that the future will inevitably bring great sadness. It’s the way of the world. I have nightmares about losing you all the time. I want you to know how much you both mean to me. It’s such an awesome love. It’s impossible to put it into words.

From the day DC and I met, you have made him feel loved and welcome. He's said time and time again, he could not feel more loved if he was your actual son. Thank you for that.

The sheer excitmment in my two boys eyes when they hear you're coming to visit is eye watering. They adore you. You have time for them, patience with them and you 'get them'. They inherently know that and it's why they love the two of you so much.

I suppose this letter really is a love letter and a letter of thanks! Thank you for investing so much in raising me. Thank you for all the many, many happy memories. With all the love in the world,

xxx