Den julegave, der uden tvivl gjorde mig mest glad, var, da min stedsøn besluttede at bruge hele dagen sammen med mig. Det er nok at sige, at hans mor ikke var af den bedste karakter. Hans biologiske far var værre. Forholdet mellem Mindy og jeg forværredes efter år ét, men jeg holdt ud for Nate. Hvorfor? Jeg følte, at barnet var for begavet atletisk og intellektuelt til at blive endnu et eksempel på spildte evner. Jeg er 110% seriøs, når jeg siger, at jeg skulle spille mor og far i de 8 års ægteskab med hans mor. Hver udvalgt baseballaktivitet. Hvert forældremøde. Hver tur her og der. Hver aften hjælper han ham med skolearbejde. Sneger tidligt ud af arbejdet for at øve sig i spil. For at få ham til skole og sociale arrangementer. Alt dette oven i at have et salgsjob, hvor jeg arbejdede 60+ timer om ugen.
Hans mor og jeg blev til sidst skilt, men Nate og jeg er stadig i kontakt næsten hver dag. Han spiller college baseball og er på Dean's List på college lige nu. Han dimitterer til maj med en grad i strafferetspleje, med en sidefag i sociologi. Jeg kunne ikke være stoltere.
Bare det faktum, at han besluttede at holde jul udelukkende sammen med mig, fik mig til at indse, at han virkelig satte pris på alt, hvad jeg gjorde for ham, da han voksede op. Alle ofrene. Hele tiden. Alle pengene. Alle anstrengelserne. Jeg havde ikke brug for en gave. Hans forståelse af dynamikken i husstanden under opvæksten var den bedste gave, jeg kunne have modtaget. Jeg ser frem til et godt forhold til ham i mange år fremover.
The Christmas present that undoubtedly made me the happiest was when my stepson decided to spend the entire day with me. Suffice to say that his mother was not of the best character. His biological father was worse. The relationship between Mindy & I deteriorated after year one, but I stuck it out for Nate. Why? I felt that the kid was too gifted athletically and intellectually to become another example of wasted ability. I am 110% serious when I say that I had to play mother and father for the 8 years of marriage to his mom. Every select baseball activity. Every parent-teacher meeting. Every ride here and there. Every night helping him with schoolwork. Sneaking out of work early to make his practices in games. To get him to school & social events. All of this on top of having a sales job where I worked 60+ hours per week.
His mother and I eventually got divorced, but Nate and I are still in touch almost every day. He plays college baseball and is on the Dean's List in college right now. He graduates in May with a degree in criminal justice, with a minor in sociology. I couldn't be prouder.
Just the fact that he decided to spend Christmas exclusively with me, made me realize that he really did appreciate everything I did for him growing up. All the sacrifices. All the time. All the money. All the effort. I didn't need a gift. His understanding of the dynamic in the household growing up was the best gift I could have received. I look forward to a great relationship with him for many years to come.
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