After all the hard years

[BookWormBetsie]

Just thought I would share as nice step parenting thread on here as they are few and far between.
Iv been in my step children's lives since they were 4 and 6, lots of hard years at the beginning but we ploughed through, always treated both kids as my own and I can honestly say even though we had some parts that I disliked behaviours and quite a few times almost left we are definitely at the other side.
Those kids are now 22 and 24, over Christmas the youngest told me he always wanted me to adopt him and that the unconditional love I gave him always made him feel safe and I got a bit hug and he said he loved me (never done that before)
And then today my step daughter who has recently got engaged asked me if I would go wedding dress shopping with her and help her with wedding organising , i literally thought my heart would burst when she asked.

Yes blending families can be so very hard but the rewards so worth it.
I can honestly say my 2 bonus children mean the absolute world to me and I'm so glad I didn't give up in those hard days x

Great to hear.

I have responded on this board in the past about my DSC who are now nearing 40 & I am so grateful they are in my life. I’ve been with their Dad for about 25 years and there were some tricky times, especially as teens. I enjoy their company & their partners, I like the variety they bring to our lives, plus I am very grateful for my step GC. I have never really played a ‘2nd mum’ role, more of a trusted friend / aunt type I guess, they know I am consistently there for them and care for them, I can offer support, advice, a listen, whatever. Definitely a worthwhile relationship which I am proud of.

That is lovely Op. Well done you - for sticking with it thru thick & thin, and for showing them what a loving parent looks like. No wonder your heart is full 🥰

That’s such a lovely story x

I had a similar thing happen with my adult childs partner. I always knew the partner was
wary of me, though I didn't know why.

They both came to live in my home over 20 years ago. Adult childs partner still kept their own space. Fine, I was not happy, but I kind of understood. Maybe they found me too much? Maybe they thought I had some kind of agenda? I didn't, there were no strings attached to the fact that if my child loved them, I could too.

After twenty years, child's adult partner said that if they had to live my life or their Mums life (I'm very frail, can not leave home alone without support, their Mum is much older, but physically ok) that they'd sooner have my life, because their words, I still had joy in my life.

And they are completely right. I'm physically frail, but I can a d do, find joy
in a lot of things.

Such a lovely post to read