There is no "Step" in becoming a parent.

"When a single mom goes out on a date with somebody new

It always winds up feeling more like a job interview
My momma used to wonder if she'd ever meet someone
Who wouldn't find out about me and then turn around and run."

Being a parent can be enough of a challenge; being the unknown person coming into a child's life is like walking a tight rope. You have to look straight ahead, not be distracted by what's going on around you, and pray that you will make it through to the other side. 

Welcome to being the dreaded, "STEP-PARENT."

When I first entered my two daughter's lives I was greeted like the plague. "Who is this guy? Why is he here? When is he leaving? I hate him." As they both know, after 15 years, I stayed!

Today as we look back, and we did this past weekend by watching video and telling stories,  we know that together we formed a family that was one. I have watched them grow, mature, and make me very proud. Under no circumstances do I ever call them "step" anything. They're mine, I raised them (with my wife of course) and I love them. Period. 

Was it all easy? Of course not, but nothing in life that's important comes without its challenges. Once you get beyond the uncertainty, it all comes together. My memories include being the one who gave the final push to a 5-year old and watched her ride her bike for the first time; with a big smile and some missing teeth, she was so proud to tell her Mom the news. (She was out somewhere—too bad, it was fantastic.) I was also there during the breakups, let downs, and moments they would like forget—like when our oldest went to babysit. What she didn't know was her Mom was watching her walk away from the house when she was to head to one house and turned and went to a friend's house. (She was grounded at the time and thought she could outsmart her.) Uh huh.

As one has graduated college, and the other has entered her "first year" (no longer called "Freshman") it's amazing to see how they have grown up. What's interesting is they don't feel that way about me—ahh, that's what being a Dad is all about.

The photo is of all 4 of our daughters, I also have my son and daughter from a previous marriage--they don't live in Chicago. As a Dad, whether biological or not, the only "step" I ever plan to take is to make sure they know they're loved and I will always step up to help in any way I can.

Thanks for stopping by.