The Forgotten Kid

My son has had me all to himself for 10 years. Superdad is the first man I’ve ever dated with kids. Even with the other men I dated my son still got the first slice of my attention pie. Now things are a lot different. Now he has to share me with 3 demanding kids. Now he shares a room. Now he watches me read the same stories that I read to him as a little guy. Now he watches me cook the same special foods with the girls. Now he watches me be a mother to someone else.
I have to say I’m very impressed with the way he has taken it all in. For the most part he loves having siblings. He has whole heartedly adapted to the big brother role. I’ve seen him defend his oldest stepsister many times. He actually once threatened a boy who kept calling the house to talk to her. I’ve watched him display acts of patience I had no clue he possessed while teaching his youngest stepsister something new. He loves sharing and teaching his skate boarding knowledge with his step brother. He fights and argues with them like a normal brother. It’s amazing what you learn about your kids when you put them in new situations.

Of course there are times when he hates to share. Like when our plans have to be cancelled because biomom is late or can’t pick up the kids. Like when I can’t to take him to the skate park because doing that with 4 kids is not always an easy endeavor and sometimes I just don’t have the strength. Like when he just wants to sit next to me and read a book and next thing you know I’m piled with bodies.

My son has matured faster and much sooner than I would have liked. He’s already starting to get the idea into his head that I’m not as cool as he once thought. He doesn’t think he needs me as much, which hurts because I still need him to be a kid. Because of this I know that I automatically give my affection and attention to the other 3 as they are so thirsty for it. It’s created a funny cycle, by bestowing so much of my time and attention on the other kids has made my kid want more of it for himself. I’ve seen his boyish need for his mother come back.