Dear Mom & Dad, From Your Youngest

Dear Mom and Dad,

I don’t say it enough,

So I figured I’d write it down

Before another year goes by.

I was the youngest one, watching from the back,

Two older brothers always clearing out the path,

Two sisters in the middle, five kids under one roof,

And somehow you kept going when the money came up short too.

I remember tired eyes, late nights, early shifts,

Stretching every dollar just to make sure we had gifts.

You probably thought we never noticed what you’d sacrifice,

But growing up showed me the meaning behind those tired eyes.

Dear Mom and Dad, I know you tried,

Even when life hit hard from every side.

You raised five kids with your hearts and your hands,

Did the best that you could with whatever you had.

We weren’t perfect, there were tears, there were fights,

But you kept that house together through some difficult nights.

And if I never found the words when I was younger back then,

I’m proud to be your youngest son—

And I’d choose you both again.

You taught my brothers how to stand when life gets rough,

Taught my sisters they were strong and always good enough.

And me, I was the baby, probably harder than I knew,

Trying to find my own way while still looking up to you.

There were things we couldn’t buy, places we couldn’t go,

But love was never something that our family went without.

Every lesson, every grounding, every “you’ll understand someday,”

I’m older now, and Mom and Dad…

I finally understand what you meant.

I know you questioned yourselves,

Wondered if you did enough,

But five children saw two people

Who refused to just give up.

You gave us more than possessions,

You gave us roots and somewhere to belong,

And every piece of who I am

Started inside our home.

Dear Mom and Dad, you really tried,

And now I see the battles you were fighting deep inside.

You raised three sons and two daughters with everything you knew,

And every one of us carries a little piece of you.

So when your hair turns gray and the years keep moving on,

I hope you know your youngest still remembers where he’s from.

This letter isn’t goodbye—

It’s just something overdue:

Thank you for raising all five of us.

And thank you…

For raising me too.

Love,

Your youngest son.