You may or may not know that I am a mom.

A step-mom to be precise, I became a mom when I started dating the wasband oh so long ago. When I met my kids, my son had just turned 7 the day before and my daughter was 8, it was a new experience. I was in love and I never wanted it to end.

From the moment we became a family, I never called them anything but my son and daughter, I didn’t see a difference. I may not have given birth to them but I don’t think I could have loved them anymore! I like to say I have all the joys and none of the stretch marks!

There were many times that they tested our patience, mine more than his because if you’ve never been one, [this is my opinion] being a step-parent is incredibly stressful, you want to be the best parent you can be, ensure everyone is happy, worrying that there might be a blow up, not wanting to overstep boundaries, so many things. Sometimes I joke when people are expressing frustrations with their teens and pre-teens, this too shall pass and I can say that my kids lived, that’s pretty good.

On the flip side, being a step parent can be the most rewarding experience ever. I wasn’t sure about being a mom when I was younger, but I fell in love when I met them and what adventures we had. I became a mom and I loved every minute of it, even the moments I didn’t love at the time.

They were both shorter than me when we met and as you can imagine, that didn’t last long! They are also so very smart, I know, you think I’m biased, and in some ways I am, but they were both very smart, graduated with honors, sometimes ‘not a lick of common sense between them’, but they were mine and I was so proud of all they did and were.

They tested my patience at times, as every child does to their parent and they made our time together special. I loved throwing birthday parties, coming up with creative ideas to surprise them, introducing them to so many new things and experiences. And as for the birthday parties, 20 was the last one I got to celebrate with my daughter, her dad and I were divorced a few months later.

No getting maudlin.

I think about my daughter every year on May 8th and my son on November 11 and send them love and hugs and wish them well. I think about them other times, just especially on those dates.  And as today was her birthday, I was inspired to tell you a little about them.

Even though I don’t see them I still talk about them to anyone who will listen, I brag about them and so…I have a 26 year old! Imagine that!

Hap Hap Happy Birthday TYH! I love you!