Thank You Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad,
I feel like my eighteenth birthday should be celebrated more as an accomplishment of yours' than of mine. I would like to thank you for everything you've given me throughout my childhood, and for preparing me to meet this day, the day that I step out into adulthood, in the best way that you knew how. You have told me time and time again, always jokingly, of course, that I was your "guinea pig." You had to experiment on me so that you'd know what to do once Jeffrey's turn came along. But as it turned out, you always knew just what to do, or just what to say. Or maybe you didn't. Maybe that was the beauty of it all along... you just sort of winged it, and it all turned out to be this good. Either way, you were able to relate to me both as parents, and as friends, and I have so much respect for the two of you because of that. It's a task that so many parents attempt to tackle, and so few actually accomplish.
Because we have always shared this close relationship, I don't think that I have been as quick to brush off your advice as any child or teenager usually would. You have taught me so much about finding faith in God, being appreciative, loving whole-heartedly, looking beyond face value, and always putting forth my all. But you have also taught me to take others' advice for what it was worth, and I think that's where you differ from other parents. You valued my opinion, and gave me that chance to learn on my own. Your lessons gave me a sort of framework to build my morals upon, and it was up to me to use what I had learned to continue my growth. I believe that it's made me a stronger, more independent woman.
You each have also gone out of your way to give me not only everything that I have ever needed, but also everything that I have ever wanted, and everything that you have ever thought I might want. I don't think that I have ever deserved it. Surely no one person could ever deserve so much. And I don't know that I have even ever said thank you. In fact, have I ever really looked you both in the eyes and told you how much I love you or how much I appreciate you? I realize that we've never been an especially sentimental family, but maybe it's something we ought to make a little more time for now and then. Time seems to be slipping us by so quickly... did it really seem like 18 years? ... and the last thing I want is to wish one day that I would have told you more often how much you meant to me.
I love you both so much. Thank you for everything. It has meant the world to me.

-Nicole