Anonymous wrote:I have one mom and one dad that stand out in my mind.
The first is a friend that married a man that had a tween daughter (daughter is now in college). They also have 3 kids of their own in the last few years. She did her best to make a blended family. The older daughter was always made to feel part of the family and she went out of her way to make sure that the daughter knew she was loved by her and that she (my friend) wanted her around and a part of the family. My friend also has a good relationship with the ex-wife and the ex-wife's new husband. The families actually will have "family" dinners together. A stepparent situation isn't the easiest but they show how it can be done to the benefit of all. I'm not saying it was easy, because it wasn't but they all put the daughter first.
The second is a guy friend who was married and had 2 kids. They were living in a different place and my friend moved back down here for his job. He stayed involved in his kids' lives, going to where they were every other weekend, his holidays, etc. He would also go up for special games or school programs. He would also go for parent-teacher conferences and other stuff like that. He started dating a very wonderful woman and made sure from the beginning that she knew that his kids were a priority. Once it got serious, she started doing the same weekend trips and incorporating the kids into her life too. They got married and made the kids a priority, which they still are. I probably haven't described the extent of their dedication but it was admirable.
Nice. I knew a guy like your second example. Almost. He couldn't afford all his trips, and related lost income, without living rent-free with that very wonderful woman. He also felt he shouldn't have to parent even half-time the child he had with VWW since he'd BTDT. It was admirable how half-assed or totally absentee he was at every adult obligation in his life, and made himself to be the martyr of every woman in his life, mother, ex-wife, ex-VWW.
/rant. I know, cool story bro.