I don’t know whether it’s because I hadn’t had chil­dren or because my sister had lost her two, leaving only my brother’s two to continue the next gener­a­tion. Or if it’s because I’m inher­ently lazy and love the notion of loving someone else’s chil­dren (less diapers and college tuitions, doncha know.) But I have harbored the dream of a mate with chil­dren long before I met SweetPea.

I know there are people whose dream of Step-​​Children hasn’t worked out well. One friend has had major disap­point­ments with her partner’s chil­dren. 20 years after his divorce, they (the fully grown chil­dren with their own grown chil­dren) still harbor hopes their parents will get back together. This couple has been together for years, she’s as generous and welcoming as it comes, and they’re having none of it.

Yesterday I intro­duced you to the Queen of Every­thing. Today, here’s a shot of Hiking Boy. (I know, it’s a little stereo­typ­ical, isn’t it? But they’re both Cali­fornia Kids. QOE has hiked as well, and doesn’t wear her crown when she does!)

It’s hard to balance life when kids live far away. I’m just getting to know Selena, Maya and Gary and now Grace and AJ are scooting along, squirming their way into my heart. But the gift of love and of seeing your beloved in another light and loved for who he is, that’s a pretty great gift. Rela­tion­ships: they’re so much richer than we can understand!

Tip: Keep looking to make more love. It makes the world a far richer place and your life more fun. Here’s GentleBoy so you know it’s not all about Grizzly Adams for AJ! “My” kids have been open and welcoming. And they’re fabu­lous people. I’m lucky. But my guess is that your beloved has fabu­lous chil­dren as well. After all, your beloved is fabulous!