Time flies when you're not having quite as much fun.

We had a very traumatic event in our family and subsequently I now have my 13-year old step-daughter living with us again. Two girls, 6 & 13. WOW. I am pleased to say that both girls have come through everything with flying colors. I continue to be proud and dumbfounded at the same time. It really is true what is said about the recuperative abilities of kids. They bounce back so fast. I think they have kept my sanity in check.

The younger one was very good at catching me at my low points emotionally. She would approach me and with that innocence and curiosity of a child ask, "Are you crying again Daddy?". That simple question and the look on her face always makes me feel better. Things are better now, if not as stable as I would like them to be.

The school year is almost over. They are both so in love with school, I'm not sure they want it to end. I don't know if the older girl is going to be with us after the end of the school year or not. That's another bridge waiting to be crossed. Wherever she ends up, I will always have a door open for her. I have raised her since she was 4. My home is her home.

I have learned that 13-year olds see food differently than adults. Did you know that a waffle with cream cheese and a slice of American cheese is a good breakfast? Neither did I! Not that I've had the guts to try it yet. I'll stick with my bacon & eggs for now. I'm getting quite the education on what girls think about boys too. Dangit, I could have used that knowledge in junior high. It would have saved years of embarrassment and shyness. On the positive side, I could tell you there were between 100 -120 cement squares per block on the sidewalks in my neighborhood. I spent many years looking down and studying sidewalks instead of looking at girls. I did put that knowledge to good use several years later when I discovered how well WD40 and matches killed ants and weeds in sidewalk cracks! (I also found out that when your friend's mother comes home and finds a 2-foot wall of flame at the top of the driveway you don't get dinner that night.) DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!

Til next time................