Tonight I was the band mom. We enjoyed thoroughly the two hour concert by our oldest son, my stepson. I knew that the night would be a parent recognition night and was mindful and sorry his natural mom couldn’t be there. What I didn’t know is that he would present me a rose on stage for being his support person. There are simply moments that take your breath away as a stepmom. I always want to be as involved as he’ll allow…..as any teenager will allow….yet I am always mindful of the reality that he is often sad his natural mom lives so far away and cannot attend such functions….that she has missed almost all of these moments in his life. Mother’s Day this son of mine surprised me again by giving me a charm for my omega that said #1 Mom.

 Its a badge of honor for me…..and tonight again…..he had me introduced as his Mom….not his stepmom….a purposeful thing for him….and meaningful to me…not that he doesn’t have a natural Mom who is dear to him, but an acknowledgement that I too, am his mom in his heart.

We’re nearing graduation in a week or so….a time of growth and change for our family. In the mail today came a Mother’s Day card from my stepdaughter,22, who lives far away and hasn’t been home in two years….another special moment reading the words she shared….there were many hard days when we first began….but God has indeed restored the family I so longed to have…and given me children not of my womb, but certainly of my heart…and for that I am thankful