Saturday night brought the exciting news that my mom is going to get married in July. Her beau is Ken, and they are the result of a success story from E-Harmony--you know the TV commercial with "This will be an everlasting love" theme song--the diddy that you can never get out of your head? Well, anyway, the news wasn't exactly a shock as we've all met Ken and some of his family and we really like him and them. And they seem to really like us which is always a bonus. We've been talking to our kids about the possibility of Grammy moving to Texas where Ken lives, moving away from Salisbury where we usually visit her and getting everybody all used to the changes that will take place.Anywhoooo, this is the second time my kids have been through this particular experience. Last July, my dad got married and although it was the first time my kids remember a new family member, circumstances didn't change too much since my dad stayed in the same town and lived in the same house my kids had visited many times before. However, the idea of having a new family member that was now related to us totally intrigued Eric. Upon hearing the news of my dad's new wife, Eric matter-of-factly stated "Well Mom, I guess you have a step-something". I clarified that I assumed he meant 'stepmother' and he confirmed that was exactly what he meant. I tried to explain that step-mother and step-father probably applied more to children that grew up in a household where their parent was married to a new partner. Eric figured that I was in denial and insisted that I accept the fact that I now had a step-parent. It got even more interesting when he realized that Lois, the new 'stepsomething' had children of her own. Eric wanted to know how many, how old they were, if they had children and whether or not he would have cousins-in-law, step-cousins or exactly how it would all fit together. I reieterated that since we didn't even know Lois' children, the terms 'step-sister' and 'step-brother' probably wouldn't be the most accurate description of our relationship. He ended the discussion with "Mom, really, I'm serious. You have a step-sister".
Well, with Grammy's announcement, Caroline thinks it all fits together nice and tidy-like. Her response was "Well, now we have an even number of grandpas and grandmas". Eric's response? "That's just weird". I think he is tired of trying to convince his mother to accept the fact that now she has more steps in her family ladder.
Comments
Yes Rochelle you are right. Hopefully I can touch base with Jen and Evelyn maybe we can meet for coffee or lunch sometime in the future.
- Debbie Stewart
Linz and I were glad to hear the news. It'll be great to have Evelyn as a step-something! I'm sure dad will be excited to host as many visitors to Texas as the two of them can persuade to come.
-Ken (the younger)