Step-Father’s Day
A short note of thanks to all the steps out there
Hi all! I published this earlier on Geezer and thought I would share it here as well. Apologies for the duplicate posts to those of you who subscribe to both.
I’m not supposed to be writing about this. My calendar is overflowing with Geezer-related to-dos: articles to edit, a new subscription service to onboard, social media to post. But my heart is somewhere else.
It’s not with my dad who died when I was 2-years old. Or with either of the two men who I called “step-dad” growing up: Wesley (he lasted a year), and then Dan, who made it a decade (and who is, strangely, more brain fuzz than actual entity; a blurred out image in the photo of my adolescence).
Today, my thoughts are with the man who stepped into my heart and stayed there. His name is Bob.
Bob is the best of the steps. He and my mother married when I was a senior in college, and although he came into my life relatively late, he’s been a consistent presence since we met in my mom’s kitchen back in 1993. He became the adult male ally I never had; a man who was always on my side. His presence filled an empty space. Not overnight, but over decades.
When it comes to being a step-parent, thar be dragons. The map is ambiguous and studded with uncharted pitfalls. But thar also be joy and healing and love. And the chance to unbreak a little girl’s heart just a bit.
So, thank you, Bob, for being my step-dad. I love you very, very much. And if you are a step-parent who stepped up, you have my applause. Someone once told me that a kid can never have too many loving adults in their life, and they’re right.
Back soon with some Geezer updates—including how Geezer got its name, what it costs to put out a print magazine, and a behind-the-scenes look into what goes into a great Gen X story. Until then, rock on my friends! And have a lovely, lovely day.
Step Dad here too. My daughter is 11 now and my wife's daughter is 17. She wrote me a letter explaining to me she wants to call me dad. I get this. Hugs.
BEING a step dad is pretty great too! I have two kids of my own — a son and a daughter — but inherited three bonus kids (all girls) when I remarried about five years ago. It’s mostly a cheerleading role, but also goes a long way toward combatting the FOMO those three new daughters would otherwise have over an intact family.