At first glance at this little journey of my life, one (obviously) crazy thing is becoming a stepmom to four.
Truly though, the craaazy thing is everyday waking up and choosing to enjoy it!
Some days I am really fortunate and that makes for smiley days poolside or capturing fairy tale moments to share with our friends and family. Other days, though, choosing to enjoy it involves twists and turns deep down inside of me. Choosing the crazy notion of loving this role requires me to grow. Every. Single. Day.
In random and perhaps ironic order… a few things I need to remind myself of everyday.
This is temporary. The years pass so quickly and family dynamics change. While the days are long, the years are short. It’s okay for me to give a little more than I feel like.
This is lasting. I’m learning quickly that the dynamics change when these littles become adults and they have a choice of who I am in their life. If I want to be a part of their lifetime then I need to act like we are going to be loving each other for a lifetime.
I am privileged. All around us are hurting and lonely people. I have people. Some days too many people to keep up with. The trust given by their mom and dad to let me play this huge role is a privilege that should not be taken lightly.
Lighten up. Harsh words I spoke years ago and carry guilt for — they don’t even remember. I’m going to mess up. I need to model asking for forgiveness and move on.
Take it easy. This is the hardest for me because I love schedules, checklists, goals, and hard work. My kids love me – not what I accomplish. Since I’m not at all qualified to speak on this point I give you this: “Blessed are the flexible for they do not snap”
I love because I am loved. I need nothing in return. It feels good when I get some lovin’ in return, but it’s not my purpose and I must love on even if I never receive anything.
Laugh. If I’m not laughing at our perpetual chaos then I’ve forgotten one of the above…
In this social media posting world stepmoms can be hard to come by. They don’t usually wear cute little tees that say #stepmom and their social media profiles don’t boast “stay at home stepmom,” but we are here — learning as we go.
So here’s one stepmama waving at you and saying “I don’t have it all together, and I’m not an expert; but I’m willing to share in this journey with you.”
From R7 to you —
Be a blessing.
