Dear Paradise/Ruth:

You do all of this with SEVEN children? I applaud especially all that you get done, and I suspect not one of your children feels neglected. I love that you say ALL of them are yours; your stepchildren especially must feel the blessing of your love.

If I may, I would like to share something wonderful that happened to me on Friday. Or was it Thursday? My beloved's daughter called. Now she and I are only a few years apart because my beloved is 30 years my senior. Anyhoo, she called, and I have been very sick with a head cold. I was so plowed under with the cold that when she called, I didn't recognize her voice, which threw her for a loop.

When I asked, may I ask who's speaking, she was flustered and said, "Oh, it's me, your daughter" as though she was grasping for the right thing to say, the thing that would correctly jog my memory, totally off the top of her head.

I was sick, but my whole body glowed right then with her acknowledgment. I was so touched, so moved, by her acceptance. As a stepchild myself, I was just so moved.

Her anniversary, one year with her new husband, was yesterday, Saturday, and my beloved and I are working on poems to give to her and her husband in acknowledgment of their anniversary.

When I asked her if the first anniversary was paper (as in the appropriate gift), she chuckled and said, "I don't know; by the first anniversary I am usually trying to get OUT of the relationship!" We laughed, and she told me this time (after two previous marriages) she is actually happy, that when they have difficulties, they sit down and talk about them, they work together.

I told her that her father would be thrilled to know that she is actually happy this time. And me, I am thrilled as well because this woman has been nothing but kind and accepting of me. And as a stepmom, that means the world to me.

Love and blessings to all stepfamilies out there,

Dr. Ni
http://www.blowingupbarriers.com