My husband and I have four boys – his, mine and ours. We have one child each with other partners and then the two younger ones we have together. They now range in age from 16 – 24 years of age.
This morning my son sent me a text message to say his girlfriend has begun having contractions – which have since stopped and started and stopped again – regardless the baby is coming (be it today, tomorrow or next week) and this has raised all sorts of emotion in me.
This new baby is not biologically my son’s yet he’s been with the baby’s mother for almost the entire pregnancy. The girlfriend treats my son’s little boy like her own and my son in turn has been there for her every step of her baby’s short life from the first movements, to birthing classes, to sticking by her side today as labour has stopped and started and stopped again.
Raising happy, healthy children is a massive undertaking. As is maintaining healthy, sound relationships with all of the involved parties when relationships break up and family dynamics change. Step families have a dynamic all of their own with all of the extra people involved; from different partners and new siblings, through to step parents and step siblings. Wrap this entire group up with lots of emotion, plenty of personality and opinion and you have a good idea of how challenging step families can be.
The early years of family life were challenging in my world – with my husband’s ex-partner, my ex-partner and then all of the grandparents and family members who didn’t suddenly stop loving the children or wanting to see them because their parents had split up.
Consider Christmas which is hard work at the best of times; it’s harder when you have to coordinate four immediate households, four children (plus their step / half siblings) and numerous aunties, uncles and grandparents. Christmas is exhausting to say the least.
You may wonder where I’m leading with this post…
I’m excited for my son and his girlfriend, but I’m also a little reserved because I’m not sure how I should act. Am I a proxy grandma, a step nanny – I’m not really sure where I fit into this picture. This baby already has two sets of grandparents and I don’t want to step on anyone else’s toes. Then I realise I’m probably being stupid about the whole thing and I don’t have to ‘fit’ anywhere. I realise no baby can have too much love or attention and that biology alone does not make a loving family member.
Regardless, I guess this newest member of the family, when he finally arrives (yes, they already know it’s another boy – why am I not surprised?), will no doubt enchant us and beguile us. He’ll add an extra element to Christmas Day and I will goo and gaa over him, hug him and cuddle him just as I do with my own biological grandson.
In the end – happy, healthy babies and loving families are all that matters – biology surely doesn’t count for as much as love and emotion does.
What’s your experience with step families? Do you have special ways of dealing with the ex-partners, extra siblings and family occasions?
This is an original World Moms Blog post by Fiona from Inspiration to Dream of Adelaide, South Australia.
Image credit courtesy of Vlado of Free Digital Photos
“In the end – happy, healthy babies and loving families are all that matters – biology surely doesn’t count for as much as love and emotion does.”
I couldn’t agree more!
When my parents first divorced we’d spend Xmas Eve with my mom’s family and Xmas Day with my dad. When the “step-parents” got added to the mix, I was already an adult and each holiday had to be “negotiated” with all the parties concerned!
This coming Xmas I’ll “sort of” be in your shoes because my son fell in love with a German girl (who lives in Germany) and who already has a 4 year old daughter from a previous relationship! They’ll be arriving in Cape Town on 22 Dec and will stay with us until 7 Jan!!
As far as I’m concerned, Xmas is always more magical when there’s a “little one” in the house who still BELIEVES! I choose to focus on that, and on ensuring that (whatever happens in the future) this particular little one will have only positive memories of this holiday. 🙂
Totally agree – Christmas with little ones who still believe, magical.
Fiona, this is beautiful. I can feel the love you have already for the baby to be!! I loved when you said, ” I realise no baby can have too much love or attention and that biology alone does not make a loving family member.”
Thank you for sharing your family dynamics so openly with us!
Jen 🙂
Thanks Jen, some days it’s tough but I’m amazed at how many of us have some element of ‘step’ family in our broader family groups
My children have a similar situation, since my parents are divorced and remarried (and my father had been divorced again…..), so they have 3 distinct sets of grandparents. My stepfather is closer to my children than his own biological grandchildren, and my children love him as much as they do any of the other grandparents. They do not know or care that there is no biology between them, they just know that he loves them and they love him. As for holidays, it was a little complicated at first, but we made it work, and I am sure that your family will too. Congrats on the new addition Fi!!
I had no idea! Wow, something to chew on but I wouldnt worry too much. Babies are a blessing and she is lucky to have your son stick by her and his family as well. My ex husbands mom/step dad are more like my parents these days and they treat my son/daughter from current marriage as their grandchildren too since they are around so much for the other two. Sometimes it is hard to work through the emotions and I forget this is my ex husbands mom, but we make it work. Holidays though are taxing with all the step families, extended family, etc….Hopefully you can post pics soon, if they will allow it.
I like how you put it Fiona: “Biology alone does not make a loving family member.” I have family members who are not related by blood or biology, but they are still part of may family. This baby is so lucky to have so much love entering this world 🙂