Navigating life as a (second)wife, (step)mom, and (frazzled)bear with inappropriate laughter and near-perfect hindsight.
I know we are all supposed to be offering odes to our college-bound children. I know, as we see the “time to move out!” pile grow taller, we are supposed to fully lean into our feelings of sadness and despair and question how, exactly, we will move on with an empty bed in our homes. It’s just that I am having other, more happy feelings, as well.
I don’t mean to brag, but I did finally learn to cook. When I first moved in with my instant family, I would look at whichever box I pulled out of the pantry and think, “Okay, serving size, 4oz…so…what, make four of those?”
This is why I cringe when people look at me with a suspicious eye roll when they hear I am a stepmom. Only a stepmom. It must be so easy to only be a stepmom. Oh yes. Bonbons and fancy wines. What I want to say is, “You think you have emotional fallout? Try life as a stepmom. So easy.”
Between Zack getting his driver’s license, a lifeguard certification, a real summer job.... WHY IS THIS CHILD TESTING ME??
Parenting is hard. Why do we do this? No, really. I mean, I know the Hallmark answer...but, really, why?
We aren't paying for college. We have never had "cover all costs for higher education" on our list of must-dos. We aren't interested in borrowing from our own future to fund our children's (adult) present.
All ready to vacation...and, wait, the kids are sick? Like, REALLY sick? FML.
If you’d asked me eight years ago how I’d react to hearing that our kids’ (bio)mom was moving out of state, I’d probably have answered with something along the lines of, “oh, thank you six pound baby Jesus.” But that was then.
My kids are gross. I don’t even care. Well, I mostly don’t even care. I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to the 5% of me that still gets bowed up at the pure “ick” of teenage hygiene.
As Rich had his arm halfway up the business end of a turkey this morning, he took a pause, shook his head and said “what am I doing?” Being the ever present person available to offer ways to do things better, I jumped in with a quick what’s wrong? while googling How to Turkey. … Continue reading When the Holidays look Different