We buried my mom a year ago yesterday.  A few weeks ago my dad announced that he was remarrying.  He was married to mom for 50 years and is very lonely.  He met this lovely lady at church and three weeks later they are talking marriage.  Needless to say, I’m shocked.  However, I’m also pleased that Dad will have someone to look after him and he has someone to look after.  Since they will be living in Florida and he met her in Florida, I have not met her. (I live in the Northeast.) I’ve talked with her on the phone and look forward to meeting her at the wedding in July.

I never thought I would ever say I have a step mom, but now I have to get used to saying those words.  It feels weird to me.  I can’t call her mom, so I’m using her name and she is okay with that too.  I am after 50, not a child anymore.

I’m looking for a connection, something that we have in common.  I talked to my mom almost every day, we had a great relationship.  We had things in common.  Today I found a few things that I can relate to with Rosemary.  I felt better about it after that.  I really wanted something to be able to connect with her on other than Dad.  She is important to him and I wanted to support him in this.

What is it like to have a step mom?  Will she want to be part of my life too?  I’m not sure yet.  She has three children and Dad has seven.  That’s a lot of children and grandchildren and greats to keep up with.  I know it won’t be the same as my relationship with Mom, but I hope that we can come close to it.  Am I wrong in thinking this?  I am 50 after all, not a child anymore. Right?