For All Of The Wonderful Stepparents
things creep gently into life a little each day
leslie crept into mine
abandoned by mother at four
escaped step-momster at six
encountered next mom age nine
abusive marriage
courage to divorce
lifetime devoted to children
be a step-mom
piece of cake
families merged
became one of three children
life changed
sharing a bedroom
sharing a mom
sharing a dad
emotions were scabs on her heart she picked off regularly
life left us both raw
countless times we locked horns over petty things
bedtime
mealtimes
friends
clothes
curfews
questioning my judgment time and again
convinced this process
like two before
would not endure
i worked at being mom
attending events
nursing hurts
providing stability
when did leslie change
when did i change
when did WE change
thinking she was my daughter was all right
pushing each other away stopped
realizing I would not leave her too
calling me mom felt authentic
she changed my life
leslie grew in my heart rather than in my womb
John 13:34: "A new commandment I give unto you
that ye love one another even as I have loved you."
easy scripture
simple plan
eloquent words
hard to do
leslie and I took baby steps together
we love each other
with unspoken appreciation for the distance we traveled
like caterpillar to butterfly
like acorn to oak
like lust to love
things creep gently into life a little each day
leslie crept into mine
i crept into hers
Copyright © 2008 Khristi K. Jones