“Keep calm. Your child has a great step-father.”
Author Unknown
Step-parenting beginnings
Those eight words certainly make a mother feel at ease. I dove into step-parenting head-first when I met the woman of my dreams a few years back. This beautiful woman also came with a particularly smart, defiant, and rebellious blonde-haired four-year-old girl named Lily.
I still learned a lot of lessons from parenting before my Ex and I called it off.
My wish is that her daughter sees this letter when she turns eighteen.
Dear Lily:
You were only four when we met. You and I played Legos, jumped on trampolines, and played a million other games together.
You returned the favor by teaching me how to braid your hair, throwing freakishly long temper tantrums, and waking me up every morning at 6 a.m. to say “Mom, Josh, I’m AWAKE now!”
I still somehow miss your devilish antics even four years later.
First, my Apologies
Can I apologize for a few things? I will go ahead anyway.
I am sorry your mom and I liked “wrestling” so much– You’re eighteen years old now. We woke you up a lot at first from wrestling so loud. Do I need to explain any further?
I’m sorry I came home at 8:01 every night for the first three months. Your bedtime was 8:00. Props to you kid. You caught on quick. I was avoiding you. You were exhausting to be honest.
I am sorry I called you Dirt Angel. Sometimes you just didn’t want to take no for an answer. So you used to throw yourself on our Arizona dusty floor like a Snow Angel, and cry , and cry, and cry some more.
I’m sorry I never said “I love you.” I can think of ten million excuses why I never did this. I always thought I would have another day with you. But that day came and left. I forever regret this.
Thanks Kid!
You were an incredible teacher of life’s lessons. I unfortunately did not know I was learning them at the time. I was too busy whining just like you used to.
I just happened to be older and taller. I was saying to anyone who would listen ” Can I just get a spare moment to myself?”
The making me braid your hair, Saturday morning barbie play sessions, and the late-night trips to the emergency room definitely forced me to do something. This was completely against my will.
You forced me to become a MAN!
