So, with the first meeting under my belt, feeling pretty confident and secure in our relationship. We were now able to spend more and more time together and Charlie began including me in plans with the kids, very casually. If they made plans to go to the beach, or a movie Charlie would suggest " hey lets call Lisa. see if she wants to come" of course I was ready and able to go, we thought we were out smarting them but years later we found out they had us figured out! He had the kids almost every weekend so it was great that I could now be included. It could only add to what we were building.
Not only was a falling more in love with Charlie, but now the 3 kids had captured my heart in a way I never thought possible. They were like a breathe of fresh air, always happy always full of stories and energy, I loved being around all of them. I admired Charlie so much for his dedication to his children, no matter what they always came first! This was okay with me, I think it made me love him even more. My parents got divorced when I was 8. My Mom made it difficult for my Dad to see me and he gave up, I missed him, he missed out on so much in my life. She blamed him, he blamed her, in the end I suffered because of it. We have all talked through it....my Dad and I are closer now, at times when I am with him I feel like I am 8yrs old all over again and I want him all to myself! I am also lucky to have a stepmother and a sister that I adore. I wish we all had more time together, but we make the best with what we do have. Facebook has been great for really keeping in touch. With my family history I guess that worked to Charlie's benefit..it is what I wished I had with my Dad. I was never going to "whine" about him spending time with the kids, not that Charlie would have ever dated anyone that was like that. Sometimes as corny as it seems, I think t was fate that brought us all together.
I was having a ball getting to know the kids. It was adding so much to my life. Maybe this was my plan, maybe I was meant to be with Charlie and his kids. We did all sorts of thing together, the relationships were easy. Bethany was a little tough to get close to she was like me wanted her Daddy all to herself, I got that on a rational level, but my heart somethimes acted like I was 8! I needed to get my emotions under control, I was being silly.
This is a picture from Canobie Lake ~ It became clear to me on that day at Canobie Lake Park, that Bethany was going to be a challenge. We were all having a great time! One of Charlie's friends and his niece and nephew came with us and because I liked all the rides I was a big hit! I was trying to spend most of my time with Bethany, look at her, she is so cute! Ever time we got in line for a ride she would ask to sit with her Daddy, I would give in and move back. This did not make me happy, I tired a different approach I would ask to sit with her. She would say"yes" but as we got closer she would change her mind. Dan would offer to sit with me, Tom wasn't a big fan of rides back then. He liked the games. Either way I never got to sit with Charlie, can you hear the pouty child in my voice. It was a long day and near the end the kids were running ahead of us and Charlie and I strolled along holding hands. Bethany stopped and looking back turned around and said "Daddy I am tired can you carry me" He did.. I pouted again she looked back at me and stuck out her tongue....what? Oh this little one was good. I wanted to talk to Charlie but how was it going to sound.."your daughter stuck her tongue out at me", he would talk to her and she would resent me. I need to be the grown up I was supposed to be! I igonored it. Little girls loved me, she would as well...maybe not today, but she would. I would make sure of it, Charlie was worth it and quite frankly so was she! I tired to put myself in her shoes, it was pretty easy... I was her 23yrs ago... I am sure I did some of the same things to my stepmother! Overall feeling great about how the day went Charlie asked the kids if they wanted to stay at my apartment that night, I was very very nervous about this. Charlie and I had talked about it, we had talked about him moving back in eventually and getting the kids used to the idea. I was worried about what they would think, him sleeping in my room...I didn't want to upset them, thinking of how it made me feel back then I probably over thought the whole thing. They all wanted to. We had a great night watching movies, we got pizza and when it came time for bed theY settled on the sofa and in sleeping bags and we just went to my room, no one said anything... yup, I worried too much. A few years ago Danny and I talked about that first sleep over and I asked him what he tought and he very logically said, "where else was he gonna sleep, we had the sofa that was the only bed" simple no explanation. All that worring I did for nothing.
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