Tiny Weasels

I spent the morning yesterday at kindergarten graduation for my youngest son and daughter.  It was only a couple of hours, but I wanted to spend a few minutes remembering it here.  I thought as I got home about all the work I have to do (very busy lately) and then smiled when I realized that years from now, I'll not have a clue what I was doing at work today and I'll only remember spending the morning with two of my kids.



My first two children are mine with my ex.  Gabriel was given to me with my wife.  So I have a total of three.  They are Gabe (5), Sabrina (6) and Chandler (7).   Gabe was only 2 when I met Amy.  His biological father has never acknowledged him.  I hope I don't unexpectedly meet him on the street.  Sabrina and Chandler come to my house everyday after school and now that summer is starting, they'll just spend their days at my house with Amy.  I don't get to see them as much, but I do get to see them every day.  Every other weekend they stay with us and we're planning a giant week long family vacation in June.



Having so many kids all about the same age all the time can be a little wild.  But I can honestly say that I enjoy each of them.  Right now, their world is still pretty much our family.  But soon friends and activities will pull them away.



There is a powerful lesson you learn when you have to give up living with your children full time.  I know about every parent feels guilty about spending too much time away.  But there isn't a day that goes by that I don't feel a little loss at the days I don't get.  The time I do get is great, but still... all those days lost.  I won't lose one day more than I have to.



Gabe is doubly special.  I truly felt that the currents of fate brought a father without his children to a child without his father.  Our relationship is certainly different, but to him I'll be his only dad.  That makes me try harder.  My relationship with my own step-father didn't really take hold until I was 20.  But then I was 9 when I met him.  My own dad flubbed things badly and that probably also delayed having a better relationship with my step-dad.  No issues with that here.  I formally adopted Gabe because I never wanted him to feel like a dad didn't want him.  I want him to always know that I chose him beyond just being in love with his mother.



There is nothing that inspires more joy in my heart than having the 3 of them piled on top of me watching a movie.  Hug your kids today and quietly thank fate for the time you have with them.