WHAT did you just ask?

Mommy, can I have a step-mom? Asks my precious 6 year old.

I slowly turned my head to look at her and go...WHAT did you just say?

Alex: "Well, Reilley has a step-mom, so I think I want one too."

Oh boy.

So I got to have a talk with my daughter about why she could not possibly want a step-mom. I explained to her if she had a step mom, that means that mommy and daddy would get a "divorce" and that we would not live together anymore and mommy would have her own house and daddy would have his own house. Then someday, daddy would decide to get married again and this woman would be the "step-mom." So then you'd have two moms. And mommy wouldn't like that very much.

"Oh." Says Alex. "Guess I don't want a step-mom. Because I don't want you and daddy to ever be mad at each other and live apart."

Which brought tears to my eyes thinking of my own childhood and parents divorce. Even though I never asked why or how it happened I still feel as if I missed out on having my real parents together. It's a terrible feeling, full of doubt and self pity and I don't want my kids to ever feel that.

However, when I think about it, Reilley is so much better off without his real mother who is a trashy pot smoking non responsible adult. His step-mom is the one who takes care of him, gets him to school, buys everything he needs and loves him unconditionally.

It was the same for me. I always got along with my step-mom, she took care of us and was there when my real mother wasn't. And for that I am grateful.

I find my real mother to be a piece of work as well, and growing up I always felt bitter toward her leaving us. But as I became an adult and you start to go through life and relationships yourself, you learn life is not perfect and you start to let go of the anger.

You realize things are not that bad and it's tough to be the step parent. I just hope my kids never have to go through a divorced family, because it's hard.