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FROM A STEPDAD TO A MOM by Abigail Layton To love you and your children, To know your sometimes empty confusion And mine too, When they're with their dad Especially when the tension is high Between him and us: Awkward Angry Aloof. To recognize and accept that Today is his day, Their day to celebrate with him With handmade cards And kisses and macaroni art. Then let this be our special day too. We'll sleep in, awakened at last By the curious silence, Sans shrills and hooting children, No pre-dawn airplane zoom flailings onto our bed. We'll cook grown-up food, With garlic and sun-dried tomatoes. I'll pick you a rose from our garden And present it on bended knee. You can sing me our song, Over omelets and champagne. You'll see, this is how We'll honor Father's Day, With rested sighs And dove bird laughter. |
By Tom Wohlmut On this Father’s Day I believe not only biological fathers should take a bow but also stepfathers. As the biological dad in a stepfamily, I am acutely aware of the fact that my daughter spends part of her time with her stepdad and mom, too. She is shared by two families who love her. When Father's Day rolls around, I get all the gifts and recognition as her dad. That’s great and I eat it up and enjoy my breakfast in bed to the fullest. And while I am like the bright sunshine for my daughter, she also enjoys delightful moonlight. So on this Father's Day, I want to recognize the efforts of my daughter's stepdad. His name is Richard and I hardly know him. Although we share fatherly duties, we share very little else. I know his birthday and his last name. We hardly ever talk beyond the handful of sentences a year at school functions or when calling my daughter over the phone. What do you think about my daughter? Does she make you happy with her vivacious ways? Can she make you laugh with her jokes? Do you hurt inside when she cries? Do you read her stories when she goes to bed? You are a mystery to me, but of the few things I do know about you I am grateful. When my daughter comes home, she sometimes relates a story about how Richard did a nice thing for her. How you took her miniature golfing, let her steer the car in the parking lot, took her out for ice cream. |
She thinks your parents are great, and she loves the horseback riding lessons your job helps buy her. It’s not hard to see that she has come to love you in a special way as a very important member of her extended family. I know the difficulty you must have experienced with her in the beginning because, you see, my daughter has a stepmother, too. It was hard for all of us to get used to the changes whirling around us, especially her at such a young age. Only time and patience has helped heal old wounds. I just want to encourage you not to take it hard whenever my daughter gets upset about you. She does that to me and her stepmom, too! It’s all part of growing up -- no matter what one's age. So while I’m going to enjoy this Father's Day to the fullest, please accept my gratitude. You are an important male influence for my daughter, and I appreciate your kindness and love towards her. I hope one day society will have the courage to face up to the reality of stepfamily situations. My dream is for stepfathers -- and stepmothers -- to each have their own special day of honor. |
| Past Articles: -
Child Abuse in Stepfamilies |