This I Believe #2

           The This I Believe speech that I read was very hard to connect with. The speech I read was about a woman who has recently become a stepmother. She talks about the awkward stage where she and the children meet each other, she talks about the hard work that comes into parenting (or step-parenting,) and she talks about the relationship she has with the “other” mom.

           

            Obviously this speech does not pertain to me because I have been neither married, nor had children, nor been a woman. However, the speech did open my perspective to a few things. The most prominent thing I noticed about the speech was the relationship she had with her stepchildren’s biological mother. I guess it’s probably because I have never actually seen how a stepmother reacts with her situation outside of TV shows (I know Two and a Half Men is an awful example), but I always imagined that the biological mothers typically didn’t like the stepmothers and vice versa. However, she tells a completely different story. She says that she has a “warm relationship with their mother” and that they actually work together as a team to raise the children. I mean obviously I believe that this is how it should be, but I just really don’t expect it to work out so well that often.    

            Even though it took a long time to get passed the awkward stage with her children, she has finally settled into her role as the stepmother.  She does most of the same things that their biological mother does, only her job isn’t full time. She may not see them all day every day, but she still has the responsibility of taking care of them when they are sick, fold their laundry, and raise her voice when necessary.  Her job is stressful and even annoying at times, but it’s worth all the effort when they make her smile with their antics.

            She can’t help the situation she is in. Sure it can get awkward sometimes and yes it is hard work, but for her, it is worth everything. She still has several obstacles to overcome. Possibly the worst stage (teenage years) are coming up, but she shows no worry. She merely grits her teeth and proclaims, “Bring it on.”