Božićni poklon koji me nesumnjivo najviše obradovao je kada je moj posinak odlučio da provede cijeli dan sa mnom. Dovoljno je reći da njegova majka nije bila najboljeg karaktera. Njegov biološki otac je bio gore. Odnos između Mindy i mene pogoršao se nakon prve godine, ali sam se zadržao zbog Natea. Zašto? Osjećao sam da je dijete previše nadaren atletski i intelektualno da bi postao još jedan primjer potrošene sposobnosti. 110% sam ozbiljan kada kažem da sam morao da glumim majku i oca za 8 godina braka sa njegovom mamom. Svaka odabrana bejzbol aktivnost. Svaki roditeljski sastanak. Svaka vožnja tu i tamo. Svake večeri mu pomaže oko školskih zadataka. Rano se iskrada s posla kako bi se vježbao u igricama. Da ga odvede u školu i društvene događaje. Sve to uz posao prodaje gdje sam radio 60+ sati sedmično.
Njegova majka i ja smo se na kraju razveli, ali Nate i ja smo i dalje u kontaktu skoro svaki dan. On igra bejzbol na fakultetu i trenutno je na Dekanovoj listi na koledžu. U maju je diplomirao krivično pravosuđe, sa diplomom sociologije. Ne mogu biti ponosniji.
Sama činjenica da je odlučio da Božić provede isključivo sa mnom, navela me je da shvatim da zaista cijeni sve što sam uradila za njega dok je odrastao. Sve žrtve. Stalno. Sav novac. Sav trud. Nije mi trebao poklon. Njegovo razumijevanje dinamike odrastanja u domaćinstvu bio je najbolji poklon koji sam mogao dobiti. Radujem se odličnoj vezi s njim u narednim godinama.
The Christmas present that undoubtedly made me the happiest was when my stepson decided to spend the entire day with me. Suffice to say that his mother was not of the best character. His biological father was worse. The relationship between Mindy & I deteriorated after year one, but I stuck it out for Nate. Why? I felt that the kid was too gifted athletically and intellectually to become another example of wasted ability. I am 110% serious when I say that I had to play mother and father for the 8 years of marriage to his mom. Every select baseball activity. Every parent-teacher meeting. Every ride here and there. Every night helping him with schoolwork. Sneaking out of work early to make his practices in games. To get him to school & social events. All of this on top of having a sales job where I worked 60+ hours per week.
His mother and I eventually got divorced, but Nate and I are still in touch almost every day. He plays college baseball and is on the Dean's List in college right now. He graduates in May with a degree in criminal justice, with a minor in sociology. I couldn't be prouder.
Just the fact that he decided to spend Christmas exclusively with me, made me realize that he really did appreciate everything I did for him growing up. All the sacrifices. All the time. All the money. All the effort. I didn't need a gift. His understanding of the dynamic in the household growing up was the best gift I could have received. I look forward to a great relationship with him for many years to come.
Automatski prevedeno: