Mom

As Mother's Day is approaching I can't help but think about how I ended up "mom" to the two older kids. Not exactly the traditional way. You see, I married a wonderful single dad. He went through an awful divorce, but from that first marriage came the greatest two kids. When I first met them, they were at a point that they didn't see their real mother very much. The situation was new to them and living with just Dad, they really wanted a female around the house doing "mom stuff", as they called it. From the time they knew I was dating their dad they asked when they could call me mom. I really resisted. I was in my 30's single and not at all ready for the title of mom. I had enough to get used to being called wife. They asked almost monthly for an entire year before I stopped saying a flat no and said I would pray about it again. I reminded them they had a mom and I was not there to take her place. Little did I know they understood that better than I ever gave them credit for. I asked them why they wanted to call me mom so bad. They gave me a list of reasons. Here's a few:
- You make our lunches
- You tuck us in
- You help us get dressed and comb our hair
- You make sure we are safe and warm
- You help in our class at school
- What if there is a new baby, it will be confused who the mom is?
- You are ALWAYS there whenever we need you
The list really does go on and on. They concluded with "you do all the regular mom stuff, we love you". It was then that I felt God melt my heart and I became Mom. It was really awkward for me at first. I was the woman staring blankly while a kid yelled MOM! from the playground only realizing after the 5th time, oh, that's me. The kids had asked me to help them remember to stop calling me by my first name, so when they wouldn't I would say "who?". It really only took a week for them to comfortably and consistently call me mom. It took me longer to adjust. I think some days I'm still adjusting. Motherhood is an ever changing job.
I love those first two kids as much as I love the 2 year old and the soon to be new baby. Without a doubt God opened my heart up to these two in a way that most people think is impossible. They don't pretend that they don't have a real mom that they love very much. I would never want them too. I want them to honor, love and respect all their parents because that is what God wants them to do. They do have amazingly big hearts that have room in them for a "real mom" AND their "step-mom Mom". I love them and the name Mom. No name has been more precious. I thank the Lord each and everyday for the love of all my kids.