About how it starts...

I became single with three young children. I had a good job, but could only go so far in it without completing higher education. So I went back to school. Being a single mom of three children, working full time, and putting myself through college was no small task. But I did it, and two and a half years later graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with Accounting Specialization.

Did I learn much going back to college?

Absolutely! I learned about managing my time, between work, kids, and school. I learned how to apply the book knowledge they were giving me to the real world and my real life. Did reading philosophy directly apply to my job or did the accounting classes make me a ready to go accountant? No. The education I received helped me understand the why’s of things and lay a foundation for my life.

The real education comes from day to day life and experiences.

One doesn’t come in and perfectly perform at their job on the first day. It takes time and experience with many variables on a daily basis before one is truly proficient. This is the same in parenting and relationships. No book or article or website will make one “perfect” at parenting and creating their blended family.

I grew up in a blended family all my life. Step fathers, Step Mothers, Step Brothers and Sisters. I even have the step Aunts and Uncles and Grandparents. They are all part of my family.

Then one day I fell in love again. This is when the blending really got good.

He came from a blended family as well. As it goes, we both inherit two sets of in-laws each. Our children inherit two new sets of step-grandparents each, step brothers, step sisters (five all told), and so the domino affect continues.

Blending the families like this has been no small feat. Every event such as birthdays, recitals, games, holidays etc. is a challenge. Just keeping everyone informed of what is going on can be daunting. And yet we have pulled it off.

We’ve learned from our mistakes and run with our successes.

I learn something new everyday and rely upon that for this journey called life. There’s no such thing as “Happily Ever After”… but there is such a thing as happy until the end, it’s a choice. My story is like so many others, and yet still completely unique. Email me on the Contact Us page to tell me your story! I'd love to hear it!

Return from About This Mom to Blended Family Fun