A couple of days ago Nicole posted a blog titled “How Many Kids Do You Really Have?” She didn’t ask me to post my opinion on what she wrote, but I am. (hey babe you gave me access remember?)
First of all, something I have heard her preach over and over again, is how having a successful blended family takes patience, consistency and time. It’s a lot of work every day to remember that I am not just a normal parent, but I am also a “step parent”. And to make matters worse, my step-kids father is really not in the picture. She rarely hears from him, and so we don’t deal with him. This makes me the primary man in their lives.
This in itself puts a lot of pressure on me as a father. I want to do right by my own kids AND my step kids. I want to make the right decisions, I want to be a good leader and role model, but it is all very hard. And I learn as I go.
I don’t feel as if I am harder on her children over my own. I have reflected on that since she wrote that post. She feels strongly that I am. So I guess I am going to have to evaluate my parental role, figure out what it is she feels I am doing and try to hold my tongue and “choose my battles” (her favorite phrase) so I can eliminate the fact that she feels I am being unfair to anyone.
There is nobody I want to hurt in any of this so its important that we get it fixed.
Oh, and in case you wanted to know. I have five kids.
