tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3457950631635966154.post5241493936137160626..comments2009-04-03T00:18:11.121-05:00simplicityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11276604958243463666noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3457950631635966154.post-47573838018445116362009-04-03T00:18:11.121-05:002009-04-03T00:18:11.121-05:00'the kid casino' ??? That sounds soo much better than the giant rat place! I must steal that from you in the future...heaven help me if I have to go back there anytime soon!<BR/><BR/>Sounds like you are doing a GREAT job at the blended family thing - keep up the great work - life ain't easy for any of us really - and if people tell you it is...they are lying!<BR/>bwahahahahahaaaadarciehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03611334115957929814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3457950631635966154.post-49438602058034630162009-04-01T22:09:41.704-05:002009-04-01T22:09:41.704-05:00Simplicity, you and J do an amazing job of keeping the best interests of all four of your children in mind at all times. If only life would reciprocate in light of our best efforts, eh? <BR/><BR/>Your post reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from Anne Lamott: <BR/><BR/>"It's funny: I always imagined when I was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox, full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. But then when I grew up I found that life handed you these rusty bent old tools — friendships, prayer, conscience, and honesty — and said, Do the best you can with these. They will have to do. And mostly, against all odds, they're enough."Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12928852973239233540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3457950631635966154.post-815844782832273102009-04-01T19:38:31.547-05:002009-04-01T19:38:31.547-05:00I just read your past Blended Family/Stepmom posts. They are so beautifully written. I needed a tissue a few times. Very touching. Thank you for listing them at the end of that post.GMShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16197528498832047372noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3457950631635966154.post-34695156076535647492009-03-31T14:24:45.100-05:002009-03-31T14:24:45.100-05:00What a situation...but you and J are doing a wonderful job handling it. Even though T and M have another set of family, H and E will have experiences that they won't and vice versa. You are a great mom/stepmom and all 4 of your children realize that...well H and E will later on when they get older. Keep on being the wonderful person you are!Ginahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07841471079968636461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3457950631635966154.post-23773308157355801122009-03-31T12:41:35.231-05:002009-03-31T12:41:35.231-05:00What a struggle, I'm sure. Thankfully, you are all so well grounded and have great perspective on your situation. While T and M do have an extra set of family to love them and celebrate with them, I'm sure H and E will also grow up to appreciate the indescribable gift of their own upbringing. Keep on keeping on!Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11911197321063074394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3457950631635966154.post-65563207318139152882009-03-31T11:48:39.501-05:002009-03-31T11:48:39.501-05:00When I was in elementary school, I was secretly jealous of my friends with divorced parents because they always had two Christmases and two birthday parties, etc. As I got older, though, I started to see the benefit of having only one family - I never had to miss out on activities because it was dad&#39;s weekend. E &amp; H will certainly have different experiences, but it&#39;s important that they learn it is only different - not better or worse.Erinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15118204814132341267noreply@blogger.com