Day 3 of My Month of Gratitude

Again, a simple one for me.

1. My Husband
2. My Children
3. My Step-Children

I have a blended family. I have step-children, who I have been involved in their lives for the last 16 years, years before having my own children.

I am so lucky with them, they are wonderful children/adults. I always say that it is down to their mother how much of a good relationship we have. She allowed me into their lives, and she allowed me to be involved in a positive way. She didn’t tell them to stay away from me, instead she invited me to the important events in their lives like their communions, birthdays and confirmations. I have never tried to be their mother, they have a mother, and I didn’t get involved in the parenting of them, they had their two parents. I disciplined them within reason when they were with me, I did the same with my nieces and nephews. I was very involved with them when they were smaller. We had them come to stay every weekend, and my husband would often have to go off, maybe bringing one of them and leaving me with one or two of them. One of the boys lived with us twice, once for a few weeks, once for six months.

I have a great relationship with my step-children, and I am so lucky that they accepted me into their lives, that they are such wonderful kind people and I am so lucky and so grateful to have them in my life.