“Respect matters. When a stepmom feels respected, she’ll want to do just about anything for her step kids.” -Jenna Korf

When you fall in love with some one you take on all that they are and have, that includes kids. It is hard being a parent. All the rules, trying to make the right choices, picking what to use from your childhood and what to avoid. Now with all of that already on your plate add a partner that comes with kids that have all been raised differently.

I came in to my step kids lives at 11, 9, and 1. When I first met them it was great and somewhat easy. The biggest challenge was and still is their Dad. A lot has gone on in the last 4 years that have affected each child and why wouldn’t it. Divorce is hard and confusing and then coming in to a whole new situation getting to know someone new and another kid, is just a lot.

Each kid is very different in their own way including my own. So together we have 4, Two girls and two boys. The oldest is 15 going on 16 and she will be a junior in high school. The middle one is 13 and he is going in to 8th grade at the same school my daughter who is 12 goes too. And the youngest is 5 going to be 6 and will be starting kindergarten this year. For the last year we have had the oldest and youngest living with us full time and the middle one wanted to live with his dad to see how that went and well he is moving back with us full time and I have my daughter every other week.

I am a huge believer in having the kids involved sports and activities. I think it helps build character and teaches them discipline and commitment. I wasn’t around obviously when they were younger but I guess they did activities, bmx and cheer. The younger one has never done anything. As older kids they don’t but I am getting the 13 year old back in to bmx and possibly the 5 year old. My daughter does gymnastics competitively and our 15 year old is at the age where she doesn’t really want to do anything. She is artistic so I have bought her painting tools and she will do that every once in awhile. I think she is talking about maybe getting a job which would be great to earn and learn some responsibility.

I love kids and I love these kids and just want so much for them. I want to teach and push them to be there best they can. The last 4 years they have seen their parents go through some struggles and it has been hard because I don’t know how to be there for them. The older ones aren’t real affectionate and verbal with feelings. I have and do tell them I love them mostly in text and will get it back usually. The little guy is a little rough with his affection towards me but I will take it and there are times I will tell him I love him but don’t always get it back. I am a lover and I find it hard to show it to them or am always trying to figure out how I can express it so they can tell.

Even though I have a daughter, it is more natural for me to get along with boys. I have 7 godchildren, and only 3 of them are girls. I feel like I hit it off quicker with the boys when I first met them, but as they have gotten older we had some more challenges because of their dad. The middle boy looks up to his dad which most boys do but their dad hasn’t and doesn’t really speak highly of me, and I know that can affect a kids head, but I don’t give up even though there have been times I want to. I always have to remind myself when it comes to all of the kids including mine that they are just kids and didn’t ask for this life and all of the things they have gotten dragged through.

Like I said earlier, being a parent is hard but being a stepparent is even harder. Trying to earn respect and trust from them is the hardest. Not 100% knowing how the kids work, trying not to get in the way of the co-parenting (if any), trying not to push your ways on everyone, and trying not to be overbearing just in general is an everyday challenge. My partner and I were raised differently and that has and will continue to affect how we have raise our kids. I know I am not perfect, but there are times I feel that the way I might do or direct some things would be more productive and efficient. Her kids haven’t really been raised with rules, goals, and responsibilities. I have always been the more strict parent not only with mine, but in my past relationships. I feel like I can find a good balance between firm and soft when discipline and authority comes in to play. But sometimes I just don’t even know how to communicate with them and I shut down. There are times I feel very small when I am around them and the respect of being a parent isn’t given.

Each relationship with the kids are different. I have tried to raise my daughter knowing her worth and beauty. I tell her how beautiful she is and she can do anything she wants. We have tried to encourage and lift her up. We have babied her in some ways and guided her in others. When it comes to my stepdaughter it hasn’t always been smooth. I have tried to express in a similar way with her that I have my daughter, and its just not the same. I don’t think my daughter has ever tried to search for love and compliments.

I can’t say for sure, but compliments weren’t thrown around at their house from what I have been told. So when the 15 year old is feeling herself or unsure about how she feels, she kind of walks in the room awkwardly like, “how do I look?” I try to use the words beautiful and gorgeous but it feels kind of weird, but I still do it. I try to have talks with her about boys and stuff but she does that with her mom and feel like its not really my place. She is a smart, sensitive (but doesn’t always show it), and beautiful girl. She does good in school and stays out of trouble, but can be lazy when it comes to stuff at home and just drive in life but maybe that’s just being a teenager. I want to teach her good work ethics, how to work hard, be responsible with her money, and to be good to others.

In the beginning, I felt like I hit it off with the middle boy the best. I am a tomboy and play pretty rough so it was easy. Shopping for him and giving him attention seemed to be what he needed and honestly I as well. I was rough but sweet, and I think he liked that. He is funny and smart but struggles in school and well, so did I so I felt like I could relate and have patience. I felt like we bonded for awhile, but like I said, he and his dads relationship is something he craves and well, his dad is not nice about me and how he talks and I always feel like he is in the middle of things. He is moving back with us full time and I am hoping to get close to him again and get him back in to bmx. He is a great kid and I think just craves a bond and closeness with someone.

Let’s talk about the littlest guy. He is something else. I have been in his life since he was a baby but there has been some back and forth and well, again his dad doesn’t talk nice about me and he has been and is a sponge. Each house is different and that includes the rules. He is so smart and silly and very clingy to his mom. It used to come between us, but I have learned to just remind myself kids don’t stay little forever. When it comes to rules for this little guy well, there are none. When he would be at his dads , grandmas, or here there are not really any rules, unless his mom isn’t home and its just me. He has rules and he follows them most of the time. I am having a lot of challenges with him these days and just hope that we will all get on the same page soon.

At the moment we live in an apartment, so we don’t have a yard or space to play, but there are still things to do but he doesn’t. He sits on his moms phone or now plays video games all day. He will have the tv on while he watches the phone, and I just think that is just too much sometimes. The things he watches are not something I generally agree with and how he talks and acts again, is not something I generally agree with because he is just mimicking what he watches and well, its not my favorite. I truly believe that what we watch and engage in affects us and our minds. I hear stories all the time and I know I can’t protect him and shelter him, that’s just not how he was and is raised, but I wish I could put more positive things in that little mind. When school was in and he was in preschool, I tried to do workbooks and get him to read so he can practice his sight words and he just wasn’t into it. His attention doesn’t hold for long unless it is an electronic. When I get him away from the phone and outside doing things, I love it and I know he does too. I also love just hanging out, me and him. It is just easier to bond when I take him out of the house and am able to interact with him.

I love these kids so much, and I love their mom even more. I want so much for all of them and want them to all have such a full life. I want to be an example of hard work, their biggest fan, support, friend, and parent. I know I will never be their parent, but I hope they will see how much I love them and would do anything for them and all I ask for is respect and understanding from them that I am doing my best. Being a stepparent is a choice and a commitment. We work hard for our bond and connection, and it really is a hard job because sometimes we feel like we just don’t fit in, but love is unconditional and I love these kids and am excited for a future with them.

“Why can’t you just tell me what you feel, because how you are acting is confusing.”

Relationships are hard, am I right? I see all of these relationships around me and are any of them even real? I follow a range of people on social media and they talk about how they have hard times and how they got through it, but if I am being honest at times it’s just so hard. It all makes me wonder what the ratio is for a healthy relationship. I try these things in my relationship or try to bring them to the table and sometimes they work and sometimes they don’t.

The last 4 years have not been easy or smooth. I have tried to do the complete opposite of all other relationships. If I didn’t clean, now I clean. If I didn’t cook, now I cook. I fought back, now I don’t. But hello every relationship is its own. This partner is the most different in so many ways. So many differences between us and from how we grew up, our past paths, partners, how we have raised our kids and our kids other parent.

What is one of the most important things you value when with someone? Is it strength, honesty, hardworking, or being taken care of? I look for a partner. I want someone that will see what I bring and will bring the same level. I try to work hard and provide all of their needs. I try to make sure they have what they need. I think about what is needed and make sure they have clothes, toys, and any activity if they choose. If I could lets just say have it “my” way, I would have the kids in sports, have clothes to choose from, we would have a house big enough to all have our own space to escape, and we would care and respect on another. We would all have a better understanding of what each other need, want, and love.

A relationship takes two but really it takes however many people that are involved. Does your partner know what you expect of them? If we don’t share our expectations and standards they won’t know and you won’t know if it is something that will work for each other. Balance is huge as well. What you lack they should bring and what they lack you should bring. Not everyone is a perfect match. What makes things perfect is the work that is done together to be the best for each other and yourself. We have to remember that our pasts aren’t the same and there could be a multitude of challenges you might have to work through, but if the challenges start to over power what could be and there is no growth then things might have to be looked at honestly. There has to be work done on all ends and again everyone involved especially if say the kids are at an age where they understand.

There is going to be hard days, good days, and all over the place days. Communication, compromising, and consistency is important when building a foundation. There has to be push and pull and give and take. A common ground and understanding of each other is a must. When you have a partner and everything is so inconsistent from one end or both that won’t make for a good time. If you’re a dreamer, a planner, or a doer and that is not equally shared, thought, or done then where is the balance for each other? What makes you work? What gets you through the day continuing to love and desire each other? Does the good, great, and amazing, beat the bad, ugly, and down right wrong?

A lot of the times we hear,” they are my best friend!” That is great if they are. You should be able to talk to them about anything without fear of humiliation, judgement, resentment, and it being used against you. It should be the safest place you have. They should be your go too. They should be the first person you want to share something exciting or even sad with. They should be the one that can share your pain, joy, and celebrations with.

We can do all the work, research, reading, listen to all the podcasts, follow all the people that share their journey, but the reality is all that matters is what we do. The work we put in. The things we are willing to give and take. The sacrifices and compromises you’re willing to give. Life really is too short. Know your worth and your partners as well.

Let me introduce myself…

“Work hard until you no longer have to introduce yourself.”

In order for you to really want to know more about me and my life, let me share who I am with you. I am a salon owner, partner, mother, step-mother, daughter, sister, artist, photographer, lover of music, and people.

My biggest accomplishment in life so far I feel is my daughter. Although she is at an age right now that, well, I am having some challenges with, she is the best part of me. Me and my daughters other mother divorced over 9 years ago. It wasn’t always easy but we have come a long way and worked hard to heal and understand what is left and well, I am happy to say she is remarried, I have been with my partner for the last 4 years , and for the last year my ex has worked at my salon as a stylist. I know it is not for everyone to understand but my daughter is happy and all of us get along.

Staying on accomplishments, my next biggest is my salon. Abeille Salon opened in 2010, and although I am not famous and serving the celebrities, I am extremely proud of all of the stylists I have had and currently have the honor to work alongside with. I have grown up watching my Dad run his company for the last 19+ years, and how he has treated his employees, and created a name for himself. It has always fueled me on how I want to be. I have created a work family. We all get along (most of the time I did say family), we support each other in our work and personal life, and we respect each other as stylists. My dad has always been one of my main mentors. He and his business are now requested because he worked hard to make a name and was good to people. I have been doing hair for 18 almost 19 years and I love it. Sure there are some days, especially when I have to wear my boss hat, where it feels like work, but most days I get to do what I love, where I love, and with people I love. We get to be day makers.

A little about my family. My parents have been married for 45 years and from that came my brother and I. My dad has been many things but for the last 20 years he has been in hospital construction. My mom was a dietician for many years, but has been retired for awhile, and last my brother is, literally, the jack of all trades, but his main job is and has been ministries and is currently at Bayside Church. I have grown up watching hard times, tough decisions, loyalty, commitment, and sacrifice from my parents. I was raised to give, share what I can, to lift up those around me, and to love all. I was taught to have a soft heart, and hard shell. I was also taught to trust in God and know that He is the one that provides.

Now for my personal life. I will talk more about it in future posts but I will give you the gist now. I met my current partner 19 years ago at a party and obviously we went our separate ways and lived our lives until about 4 years ago when she reached out to come and work at my salon. We reconnected and well, here we are. She came in to my life with 3 kids. Her oldest is 15, middle is 13, and youngest is 5. 1 girl and 2 boys. Her and I come from extremely different pasts and how we were raised. With that, our kids have been raised differently and to be honest, it has been hard at times and a lot of feelings of uncertainty in so much. It has not been easy and there have been a lot of ups and downs. We are so very different and came in to this relationship each with a lot of baggage. Like I said it has not been easy, and in the short time we have been through a lot, but what relationship doesn’t, right?

Well I hope that this introduction has provided information that will keep you sticking around to find out more in details about everything I have shared.