Becoming a stepparent is one of the most difficult things that I’ve ever done. When I first met my husband, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I thought I knew, since I have a step-dad and stepsisters, but I really didn’t know. It was like me saying that I knew what being a mom was all about because I was a daughter. I didn’t know.
Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about what it take to be a bonus mom. It takes a lot of sacrifice and a lot of deep breathing. I wouldn’t change anything for the world. My bonus sons have taught me how to be a better and bigger person, more so than I ever thought I was capable. I talked a lot about taking the high road, but I didn’t do a lot of it. I was never really required to. They have pushed me over and over again to love unconditionally and give without question. That is a gift that I can never repay.
Yesterday was my bonus boys sixteenth birthday. In commemoration of this event, I’m publishing a poem that I wrote for them six years ago. I wrote the poem in a literature class that I was taking at The Loft in Minneapolis. It’s cheesy. It’s not Frost. But the poem does sum up how I feel about the boys and how much they have given to me once I took the opportunity to look for it.
Three Ten Year Olds
by Tracie Yule
I ponder Earth’s greatest woe
Of testing all that I know
Inside the bodies of three ten year olds.
They were not born of my flesh.
What I knew, I know less and less.
Somehow I find myself quite blessed.
Before, the joy in life I did find
In all the things that were confined;
The boundless spirit they did define.
Their knowledge they did impart
And stuffed it inside my craggy old heart,
And gave my life a brand new start.
Now I look about me and see,
Life’s little mysteries
Revealed to me
Inside the souls of three ten year olds.
Happy Birthday Captain America, Green Lantern and Thor!
FreeVerse is a weekly meme created by Ooh…Books. The idea behind the meme is to celebrate poetry is some way or fashion. Write your own or share a poem that you love. All is welcome with this meme.
5 Comments
Wow, I have a friend who’d dating someone with two boys. One’s a teenager. I just can’t imagine.
Tracie, how lovely! What lucky boys to have someone who cares enough to write poetry for them. Thank you for sharing.
Wow, triplets! What a way to step into bonus momhood! (I love that term bonus mom, btw.)
Tracie, the words you wrote and that picture
bring it all together! We are all so lucky to
have each other.
That is very sweet Tracie. For sure, you’re as sweet as your poem to you kids and to your husband’s.