The joys of (step)motherhood..

    You definetly won't see any blogs on here about pregnancy, childbirth or child rearing(o.k....I may have some advice..) as I have no expertise in these areas. I am however a PRO at step-parenting!! That sounds kind of funny, doesn't it?! But let me tell you, it's been the best thing to ever happen to me....well, aside from marrying the man of my dreams!! :)
     I've been asked an asortment of questions over the years such as, "Is it hard to love someone else's child?", "Are you guys close?"(meaning my step-daughter and I),"Do you get along with her mom?", etc. It's funny to me that people always assume that things have to be hard, and like I said before.. why does it have to be that way??!! Things for me have been pretty smoothe...a few little bumps, but nothing major, just my own little worries and fears!! :)      We connected from the first day we met, no questions asked!! I waited awhile to meet her, as both my husband and I wanted to be sure that I was going to be around, which was something we both felt strongly about.....kids need stability, not someone coming in and out of their lives!!! Anyhow...she was just the cutest thing!! Sitting up there on the swing(which, by the way, her daddy bought for me b/c he know how much I loved them!!).  She was a spitting image of daddy....just perfect!!! I walked up onto the deck and sat down with her (I felt very nervous....of a little girl...silly!!), and we just started talking!! Next thing I knew we were playing together and laughing.......my heart was hers from that first day!!!!       As time went on, I knew that the inevitable day was coming when I was going to meet her mom. I actually felt nervous, I think because you just know that they are going to hate you at first!! What parent wouldn't, right??? You're the "new" person entering their childs life, and you know what? If it was me, my guard would be up also!! I won't drag this out to be a looooooong story, but we did finally meet, and guess what??!!! Not a horrible meeting at all!!!! Phew....that was the big hurdle over with!!As for the question (that I am sure is asked of me weekly, even to this day)of do I get along with her mom??!! why yes I do, and why shouldn't we??!! I'd like to think that she knows how much I love and cherish that little girl! I'd give my life for her and will always be here for her. She is essentially the child that I never got to have, and I'm so thankful for having her in my life.        I've been waiting and waiting for that moment to come when she looks at me and says those heart breaking words "You're not my mom!!"...but you know what?! they've never come!! (thank God!!). I think my heart would break a million times over to hear those words. I'm hoping I'll never hear them and I have faith that I never will! We have an awesome relationship, are so very close (this is what I imagine it feels like to be a mom and love your child). I can't imagine us not having that bond, EVER!! She is the light of my life (aside from the Hubs, of course). My life has only gotten better with her in it!! I'm a super proud (step)mom who brags about her to anyone who will listen, who tries my very best to be at all of her events and life moments.......I don't want to miss a minute of it....you can never get these precious moments back again and I want to be there for all of it!!!!!