That kiddo up there graduates from High School in 2 short weeks! I have no idea how he got that big! When I first met him he was a 9 year old who told big whopper stories, like about how he raced dirt bikes in Germany (he lived there for 3 years....from the ages of 1-4)! He loved to ride in my big truck and he was curious about why I wanted to marry his dad. He was in our wedding and his first words after were "Do I have to call you mom?" I told him no that I was perfectly fine with him calling me Heather....his next words were "ok mom". He has the biggest heart of any teenager I know. He loves people and has never met a stranger. He has filled my life with such joy and I honestly cannot imagine not knowing him.
Maybe that's why my heart is breaking just a little right now. In conjunction with graduation we are throwing the boy a party. We invited all his friends and family and are looking forward to celebrating with him. However, some of his family have decided they don't want to be here. If it were distant cousins it probably wouldn't bother me as much, but it's 2 sets of his grandparents. They have decided that the way they feel about the past is more important than celebrating his future. I am trying really hard not to be bitter or angry about this. I have been praying that they have a change of heart and mind and come anyway. I do not understand their reasoning, and maybe that's a good thing. What I do understand is the way my son feels about it. He is hurt, although he would never show it.
So I end with this.....blending families is never seamless. It doesn't always turn out the way we dream it. All we can do is love each other. Make sure that the kids feel loved by all of us. And put our own feelings out of the way in order for our children to be happy. Life is too short to hold grudges.
