A open letter to my parents: At this point in my life, I’m considered an adult. Yes, maybe sometimes I don’t completely act like it, but that’s part of life, right? As I’m growing up, I realize just how much you did for me. And, for that, I need to truly thank you; something I don’t think I’ve appropriately done to date.
Dad, thank you for telling me what I’m capable of. For giving me the support that I needed to build a dream to chase after. And for believing that I have the talent to reach my goals.
Mom, thank you for making me realize that I’m worth everything in this world. That I must be treated like a queen, and that I should never settle for less than what I deserve.
Dad, thank you for spending countless hours after you got home from work each night to teach me math that I wasn’t going to learn in school for a few years later. It kept me challenged and ahead of the class as best as you could have. And with all my classes. That means so much to me that you hate seeing me struggle.
Mom, thank you for giving me a shoulder to cry on when my “friends” broke my heart, and to let me know that my world wasn’t crashing down around me — as much as I believed it was at the time. You have been my true best girlfriend growing up.
Dad, thank you for coaching me from the foul lines before, during, and after every softball game. I never had a truly good game until you told me I did. Every game meant more to me seeing your smile from outside of the dugout or out on the field. Even occasionally seeing it from the batter’s box.
Mom, thank you for standing up for me from the foul lines, and yelling at other moms or dads from the opposing teams when their daughters tried to fight me on the field after getting hit by a pitch or something. To show me to never back down against a bully, and to give them a taste of their own medicine. Or even “killing them with kindness.”
Dad, thank you for getting mad at me when my report card didn’t have high enough grades. For making me realize that I can put more time into my work and improve my performance as a result. I know I could have and should have done better, and looking back I knew that I would have done better of I knew the things that I know now.
Mom, thank you for getting to know my friends — all four of them — to make sure that I was choosing them wisely. That I was continually surrounding myself with respectable and responsible people through each and every phase of my life.
Dad, thank you for letting me help you work on things around the house as much as I could. I learned how to “try” to mow the lawn and clean up dog poop, but I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t just want to spend an extra few minutes with you.
Mom, thank you for passing on your belief in greater things that are entirely out of my control. That everything happens for a reason, and we’ll one day figure out why. That there are moments we experience that provide comfort and a sense of self that we can’t explain.
Dad, thank you for being so strict with your rules that I missed out on some moments that could have led me down the wrong path. For standing your ground when I begged to go somewhere or do something that, in hindsight, could have introduced me to things that would jeopardize my future forever.
Mom, thank you for sticking up for me through ninth-grade softball tryouts. I know you regret it, but thank you for seeing through that and recognizing I was more capable than just being a fool out on the field.
Dad, thank you for understanding when I take a leap of faith. And for supporting me in my journey even if it doesn’t seem logical at times. For recognizing that it’s what I need to do, and hearing me out.
Mom, thank you for your personality. For sharing your love of life, sense of humor, excitement for every experience, ability to befriend a stranger, and courage to look fear directly in the face until it backs down.
Dad, thank you for your love of sports — both in watching and playing them. For raising me as a superstar, and showing me what a true sports fan looks like.
Mom, thank you for showing me the female ropes. Giving me tips on how to dress like a girl, and do my makeup properly. For teaching me manners and how to act like a lady, even though I’ve always hated it.
Dad, thank you for showing me what hard work looks like. For showing me that nothing comes easy, and that countless hours of blood, sweat and tears really does pay off.
Mom, thank you for showing me what a true battle looks like. For never giving up and for still being an active, involved, dedication mother to my sister and me, even when you clearly didn’t have the energy to do so.
Dad, thank you for showing me how a man should treat a woman. For proving that chivalry isn’t dead, and giving me baseline expectations for the very least of what I should accept. Even if it does mean a $50 steak
Mom, thank you for showing me how to fight for what I believe in. In life, love, and everything in between. For giving me the strength to stand up for myself and expect nothing less than the very best.
To both of you, Mom and Dad, thank you for showing me true love in its rarest form, what it feels like, and how it can extend beyond life’s obstacles and challenges.
Without each of you, I’d be nowhere near the person I am — and the person I’m still working on becoming. There aren’t enough words in the world to express my appreciation, but I think this is a good start. I owe you one (many). I love you forever and ever.
No. 18 on the field, No. 1 in your hearts, Darby.
Darby Boggs is a resident of Mill Creek.
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