Steppy Daddy

Disclaimer: This is a long one.

I believe that one of the hardest parts of dating, when you are a single parent, is knowing that eventually you will meet someone that will be around your child.  It was very hard for me to imagine a time that my son would be around anyone but his father.

I was scared that he would get attached to that person and if we broke up, he would be just as hurt as I was.

When I started dating K, I honestly knew the day that I met him that I never wanted to be without him.  

It was that easy, but him being around The Dood was just plain scary.  He straight up told me that he didn't want any children of his own, but he was fine with mine.  While that sent up red flags, I was still comfortable.  

I remember being so nervous the first time they met.  We were at a pool party and K decided to stop by.  

It wasn't how I planned for them to meet at all.  

See, I am a planner and I had this all planned out! 

He wasn't even around The Dood but when he went to swim, the Dood was all about him.  He swam over to him and instantly they just clicked.  Before I knew it K was playing with him and throwing him into the deep end.

Then were teaming up to try to put ice on me!  I was floored.

That night when we left The Dood asked me, "Mom, is K going to be my new step-dad?" 

WOAH.  Pump the brakes kid.  

We are just dating and then it dawned on me.  If I already knew that he would be in my life forever, maybe The Dood did as well.  

I text K and told him what The Dood said and his response, "I want to be with you and him.  I will do whatever it takes, I may not be the best at this but I will try my hardest."  Wow.  

After that night our lives changed.  We went hiking, we went to the park, we got the Xbox kid out in the sunlight.  It was great.  I watched their bond grow stronger and stronger.  The Dood started picking to sit on K's side at the restaurant or hold K's hand in the parking lot.  I knew that if K would be in our lives forever then The Dood and I would be just fine.

When K and I got married, we made vows to The Dood, I vowed to always make time for just him and myself and to put him first, as he was the first man in my life.  

Oh but when K gave his vows to The Dood, there was not a dry eye in the house.  

He promised to watch him grown and to help him grow.  

He promised to provide for him and his mom.  

He promised to be his friend. 

See, The Dood is an extremely lucky little boy.  

He has a daddy that loves him with all of his heart.  

He is a good daddy, there is no question about that. 

The Dood is just lucky enough to have a really incredible Steppy Daddy (his name for K) too!

And when this mama finds things like this in The Dood's lunch box at the end of the day...

Her heart swells as large as it can go because it is so full of love it may burst right out of her chest. 

I am a very lucky girl.

XOXO

Pearl