So, I must say planning my second wedding was far more fun than the first, I was older, paying for it myself and I knew exactly what I wanted my wedding to be like. Funny, Charlie's ex had gotten engaged long before us and was supposed to get married that summer (when we got engaged) but, when the kids called her and told her about our engagement and wedding date, she told them her and her fiance (husband now) had picked the same date, she asked to talk to me and of course she was going to change her date. One potential conflict avoided, and thankfully there were no others.
I think the wedding was hard for Bethany, I know it was, this was her Dad, she was/is a Daddy's girl and me being me wasn't easy for her, I'd like to say now looking back she knows it was a good thing but at the time it was hard. I didn't really see that then, I was wrapped up in my own process. We've talked about it and I've apologized for not being sensitive to her, I just wanted her to be as happy as I was. The boys were fine, they didn't have any of the fear that Beth did. As for Charlie, he wanted me to have everything I wanted and happily let me plan away. Of course I took it and ran. I wanted a wedding that represented us, fun, romantic and family friendly. I knew the King's Grant had clam bakes and I thought what a great idea, I made an appointment and when we went I just knew this was exactly what we wanted. So, a formal wedding inside at the Gazebo and then outside for fun!! We had softball, horse shoes, a DJ and a dunk tank, I'll explain that later. But, I wasn't kidding, I wanted I Cinderella theme, I found invites of off white and blue with a stage coach and road to a castle, I ordered little stage coach jewelry boxes as favors for the women. I also had picture frames shaped as a stage coaches being pulled by a horse, they were small enough and I used them for the seating arrangements. I was doing everything myself and with the help of friends. I was happy. Then someone asked me how I felt about being a "step mom". In all honesty I guess I never even gave it a thought, I mean I loved the kids and figured not much would change, just now more official. However, everyone wants to harp on them not being my kids. Me raising another woman's children and all the conflict and drama that can entail. I will address this only once and as delicately as possible, their Mom and I have had our share of disagreements and of drama, but in the end our main focus was always the kids. Things could have been better but also could have been a whole lot worse. We are in a great place now and look forward to all that the future holds for our kids.
I love being a step mom it was been one of the greatest experiences of my love, I could not love them anymore even if they were my own. To me it was a very natural transition and let's face it anyone who knows them, knows they are really great kids so they made it easy as well.
I pushed all those thoughts out of my head and focused on my wedding to my best friend and soul mate, I had waited a long time for him and him for me, I was going to get my happily ever after!
