Thank you Mimi

On Saturday, Alex’s dad asked me if he could take Alex to Hawaii from Dec 26th-Jan 2nd. I told him I would think about it as my gut did a little twirl.

What? Give up my week when I am off work and get to hang out and relax with my boy? When we get to play games and go to movies and hike at Torrey Pines? Let you and your girlfriend take him away during my week?

Those were my first thoughts.

Then I thought to all the things I have been reading about Mimi and step-parenting and being the mother of children with a new step-parent and no matter what putting the children first….and I took a deep breath and thought that – hey, for Alex, a trip to Hawaii would be awesome. It’s not like I can take him anywhere anytime soon. All we would be doinng is hanging out at home. Who am I to keep him from a trip to what some people call paradise?

So on Sunday I told him it was ok.

Thanks Mimi – you are setting a great example for divorced parents everywhere :->

Speaking of step-parenting, I was a step-mom for awhile. And in hindsight I can say that I sucked balls at it folks. Now, my *excuse* is that it was while I was insanely young and pregnant and then with a new baby. I had zero ability to look beyond my own nose and caring for a new baby and dealing with a not so perfect husband. Unfortunately Nick’s older sister suffered for it. And she was dealing with enough crap as it is with her own mother (who was a very difficult ex-wife). She was only 4 when I moved in with her dad and did not deserve my selfish insecure nonsense. I did the best I could, felt horrible when I snapped and in later years I did apologize and try to make up for it. I did end up caring for her one summer when she was really fighting with her mom and her dad was utterly incapable of being a dad. She finally settled in with her (and Nick’s) dad’s family in South Carolina which most likely saved her life. Flash forward to now and she is 25, graduated college, owns her own condo and just sent me an email announcing her engagement! She is so beautiful and has been with her fiance for a long time. Her brother reports to me that this is a Very Good Thing (he likes the guy). I cannot believe this beautiful young woman is Natalie! Dear gawd, I am old.