Father's Day is always an interesting day here. I've never had any children of my own, and until I married Susan three years ago, I'd had all my children vicariously. Marrying into a family with two teenage boys has meant that I haven't really had to do much. Sure, I'm there if needed, but my disciplinary role (thankfully) is approximately zero (Susan has a good handle on that), so I function as cheerleader for Adam and Eric, and as a provider of moral support for Susan. Thus far, things seem to have worked out well. Adam & Eric have accepted me as a part of their family, and I've been able to learn from them as we go along.
I accepted my role early on. I am not their father, and I am thankful that they both still have a relationship with their father. Being a stepfather is a difficult job, but it is also very rewarding if you approach it with the right attitude. I've decided that my contentment would be most positively affected by not having any expectations about being recognized. Father's Day wasn't even something that entered into my consciousness as something that would be a special day for me. Imagine my surprise, then, when Adam and Eric gave me a Father's Day gift just a few months after Susan and I got married. I can generally keep my emotions under wraps, but that almost brought me to tears.
It's nice to find out that your contributions are recognized. I've never expected anything to be done for me for Father's Day, but it does mean a lot to me that Adam and Eric care enough about me to recognize me on that day. As I'm continually learning, that's what families do.
