I can honestly say, for just about my whole life, I have been a member of a blended family. I hated being a step-child as a youngster and couldn’t fathom why my parents were unable to make things work. As an adult, I now know that relationships aren’t as cut and dry as I once thought. There is a great deal of work that goes into any successful relationship. My parents were young and didn’t have a clue as to the proper tools needed to be happy in love. They went their separate ways early on and those actions actually brought several blessings into my life.
I admit my mom, dad and I may have ended up miserable had my parents not made that decision so many years ago. My dad married when I was a small child and I have half brothers and a sister that I simply adore. My mom also married and gave me two sisters that I can’t imagine my life without. Our blended family has had challenges. We have experienced divorce, the unfortunate loss of my stepfather, and a new marriage years later. Yet, through it all, I have never felt any less loved by either of my parents.
It’s never easy when hurt and disappointment enter our lives, especially when it’s matters of the heart. There is a certain amount of healing that needs to happen for each individual as well as the children. Of course, the child doesn’t normally have a say in the choices their parents make. I remember as a child, facing the fact that it is what it is and I have to deal with it. My only hope was that neither of my parents forgot to love me. And neither of them missed a beat, especially my mom.
Today, I can actually say I am grateful that each of my parents was able to move forward and find love again. If they hadn’t, I don’t know that I would have been blessed with such a wonderful set of siblings. My sisters and brothers love me unconditionally no matter which parent I belong to.
Just recently, my mom remarried and has blessed me even further with a new step sister and brother, who happen to be very close in age to me. As adults, we now have a wonderful opportunity to build a great friendship. I am excited about my parent’s happiness and I am thankful for the blessings all around me.
BMWK, what are the blessings in your blended family?
I too am the product of a blended family. My parents were very young they separated when I was 4. My mom met a new man and he became a part of my life but he never tried to replace my father. He however was the one who taught me how to drive, he and my dad attended all my graduations, and it was stepfather that helped my find and purchase my first car and when I didn’t have a car it was my step dad who picked me up from work every night after I got out of school. He an my mom had two girls and sometimes I felt left out because of things like the called the house the “Lee Residence” but I wasn’t a ” Lee”. Or his mom would purchase things for my sisters and not for me ( long story). However those were the moments I could turn to my paternal family. My dad adored me when I was younger and I have lots of aunts and uncles on my paternal side of the family who all adored me as well. My Paternal grandparents and aunts and uncles always made me feel special and loved. I am grateful and blessed to have had to men in my life that are there for me when I need them. My Biological father does not believe in monogamy so I’m very grateful he and my mom parted ways early on. He may not be good partner but he was a good father to me in my youth. I now am engaged to a wonderful man who has two wonderful sons and they are blessings to me. I’m trying to conceive but I have fertility issues but it’s heart warming to know if I never have biological children of my own I have his sons who treat so kind and shower me with the same love and respect they give to their biological moms. We face our share of difficulties from the biological mom but I don’t allow the negativity to affect the relationship I have with the children. Come to think of it My dad and step dad never got along but it never affected me either. I happy have them all in my life.
Great read Tiya! So nice to hear of the blessings and you benefiting from the true outcome of God’s plan. Thanks for sharing!