What I'm Most Thankful For

            Every year we are asked to say what we are most thankful for. There are a lot of traditional and cliché things to say, but that doesn’t make them any less true. I am most thankful for my parents. They are my stronghold, my stability, my voice of reason, and where I get my perspective. I have been blessed to have a really great relationship with both of my parents for most of my life. When I was in sixth grade and all of my friends hated their parents, I was the one who could never complain about them. Yes, they made mistakes, but every parent does. Still, they showed an unconditional love for me and gave me everything I needed.

            I mention my mom a lot in my blogs, because she’s been the person I’ve talked to the most throughout my life. My mom loves to talk, but she’s also a very good listener. Since I was an only child, she was able to give me her full undivided attention when she was home. I’ve been known to be really quiet at times, and during most of the day, I wanted to be out playing with my friends rather than talking to my mom. But at night, when I didn’t want to go to sleep, we’d talk for hours.

            Like most moms, she’d be able to find out everything she wanted to know about me whether I wanted her to know or not. She’s still the person who knows me inside and out, and as hard as I try, I can’t keep anything from her. But I have to say that I’m thankful for having someone in my life who is so interested in knowing everything about me. It makes me feel really loved and like I’m worth being interested in. Also, I know she’s the person who will never judge me, and as much as she knows about me, she fully accepts me for who I am.

            My mami and me have a relationship based around communication and love. Whenever I’m confused or sad, she’s the person who I know will make everything make sense again. There are times when I don’t even know why I’m sad, but she can always figure it out. She’s my emotional stability and where I receive most of my wisdom. She’s also my comfort. She makes the world seem so beautiful just because she’s there to hold me and listen to me. I love my mami and I am so thankful for her strength, wisdom, and beauty.

            My dad is someone who I don’t write much about, but that’s only because I can write pages upon pages about how much I love my mom, but words can’t express how much I love my dad. We’ve always had this special relationship without the need of words. When I was a little girl, we didn’t talk a lot, but we spent a lot of time together. We’d stick our tongue out at each other, and sometimes he’d trick me into seeing him stick his tongue out, but then cover his eyes so he wouldn’t see mine (that’d way he win). Everything was always funny with my dad. He never knew how to be serious with me, and really couldn’t discipline me, but he could play with me and try to teach me to be just like him.

            I’ve spent my life trying to make my dad proud. He is a sports fanatic and probably knows everything there is to know about his favorite sports. I’ve never liked sports and have never been athletic. I tried out for the basketball team when I was in seventh grade, but didn’t tell my dad that it was for him. I was terrible and couldn’t make a single shot. I didn’t make the team. Years later, I found out my dad showed up to my tryouts and hid somewhere to watch. Even when I fail, or try something that seems to difficult to accomplish, he’s always there being my supporter.

            My dad is my rock, the thing in my life that never changes, and never leaves. He is so rational and makes sense of the world in his own way. He is unwavering and to him, everything is black and white. It’s very comforting to have his emotional stability, because whenever I’m unsure of something, I just listen to him because he’s so sure of everything. I don’t always agree with him, but I like knowing how constant he is. He still argues that clear is a color, and that the Redskins will win the Super Bowl this year. I know that he will always believe that what is wrong is wrong and what is right is right. He’s my reason and my strength and he means the world to me.

            Needless to say, I am a daddy’s girl, and very proud of it. I was my dad’s only child until I turned fifteen and then he had a another baby girl. He loves my sister so much, and I love the way he looks at her. I’m sure it’s the same way he’s always looked at me. I’ve always been jealous with my dad, but I’ve been more than happy to pass the title of daddy’s little girl to my sister. My dad likes to complain that she loves him more than I do, but I want to remind him of something.

            My mom likes to tell me the story of the day my dad fell in love with me. They were both very young when they had me, and I really don’t think they knew what to do with a baby. For several weeks, my dad had never been alone to take care of me, but one day my mom left for a whole day. When she came back, my dad wouldn't let go of me and we became inseparable. I know my dad loved me since I was born, but that was the day he fell in love with me. I believe I was his first true love and I never thought there was anyone he could love more, until my sister came. At first, I knew he loved her, but then I saw it happen, the day he fell in love with her too. But what I really want my papi to know is that he is my first love and he will always be the most important man in my life. He taught me what a real man is, and I won’t accept anything less in my life. I’m so thankful for the strong man that he is and the wonderful father he’s always been.

            Both of my parents have expressed several times that they wish they could give me more. I have told them over and over again that they’ve given me so much. I want them both to know that. I am a person who has been given love, attention, affection, and quality time from the people in my life who have mattered the most. There is nothing more that I need, and I am so thankful for that.