I always liked my parents fine, but I swear that it wasn't until I was about 20 that I realized that it mattered, that it really meant something, that they loved me, supported me, and actually liked me.

I grew up in a pretty stable environment and most people's parents seemed to love them pretty unconditionally, and I didn't give it much thought. I think I unconsciously felt it was just some sort of biological urge everyone feels towards their offspring and appreciating it is like appreciating breathing or wanting to eat.

I had a rough childhood and adolescence in the sense that I really didn't fit it at all socially and was bullied and isolated a lot. I had a couple of bouts of really serious depression where I felt completely alone in the world even though my parents where there to help me with whatever I wanted, kiss me good night, make me whatever I wanted for breakfast and tell me that they loved me everyday. It was just white noise.

I think the turning point was something so small, but it flipped a switch in my head. In my senior year of college, I was having a really tough time one semester, and I didn't think I could make it to spring break to go home and catch a breather. I went to college with my childhood best friend and we decided we needed a break and wanted to go home for a weekend. I called my parents and asked - no problem, they would love to see me, plane tickets were in the mail ASAP. Her parents said "no," they didn't want to spend the money.

Now, my BFF's family didn't just have a ton more money than mine, they really liked to spend. Big European vacations, country house, new cars all the time, eating out at all the fancy expensive restaurants in the city, designer clothes for them and the kids, etc. (All while my folks bought my clothes secondhand and we couldn't afford a car or a vacation at all.) Back then a plane ticket home was about $130, and dinner at one of those restaurants for 2 (which they did almost every week) was probably about $250. It made me realize what it meant to have parents who really love and support you, and why it means something and isn't just background noise.