I Forgot to Tell You My Best News!!!

With all my whining and crying and carrying on, I forgot to tell you my best news.

I don't think I've ever written much about my stepson, Les. He was given to my husband and I when he was but 13. He had been told until that day that his father was dead. Obviously, his mom and dad had a rocky marriage. They split when Les was just 2. She never let Mike see him.

But now he is a teenager. And you all know what they are like!!! She couldn't control him any longer. So let's bring dad into the picture now.

And of course, we got him just a week before school started with only the clothes on his back.

Mike worked in Christmas trees and it was the beginning of their busy season. Trimming and spraying and preparing for cutting. As the farm was over an hour away, Mike would usually just stay in our camper on the site instead of trying to drive home everyday.

So I got the brunt of clothing and providing entertainment for this very confused, rebellious, over 6 foot, man/child. And we became quite close, quite fast. I mean who else did he have? And I was a friendly face, most of the time.

I worked third shift, 10-12 hour days, 7 days a week. But, hey, that's pretty much life any more.

Managed to get him enrolled and off to school. But what a roller coaster ride that turned into being. The town we lived in (well, just outside of) was very cliquey. And Les was a big boy, towering over his classmates. A new target! And not only for the students, but the teachers as well.

And Mike, when he was around, was not the best influence. He decided he was going to be the 'father' he never was. He was going to instill morals and responsibility in this boy!!! Oh boy! And the battle began!

During my time with Les, I learned he had been abused, molested, and Lord knows what else. I needed paperwork for physicals and such. We learned his mother was still claiming his father on HER paperwork to get more foodstamps, etc.... in 3 different counties.... under her maiden name, her married name, and an alias. But that is all another story. (And no, nothing ever came of all that).

Then she started wanting visitation. No problem. Except Les didn't want to go. Les and I talked to the child advocator and told him about the abuse, etc. The courts would haul us all in and try to make Les tell the court what he had told me, in front of his mother!!!!

The teacher's would pick at him. Unmercifully. "Is that marijuana I smell on you?" for one example. Hardly a week would go by that I wasn't awoken and called in for something or other. I would tutor Les and try to explain to just let it roll off his back. Don't buy into it. Etc., etc., etc. And then they would find whole new buttons to push.

During this time is when I had my first 'nervous breakdown,' in the principal's office. Came to in the crisis unit of the local Mental Health Clinic where they talked me down after about 3 hours.

Shortly after that, Mike was laid off for his usual January, February, March period before planting started. So then the 'father' thing escalated with him there constantly. Soon after that Mike and I split up. Les was then 15, things had not gotten any better at school. Les ended up back at his moms.

Then he got in trouble and ended up in prison for 4 years.

He is now 25 and he came to see me last weekend!!! We had written and talked on the phone, but had not seen each other in about 8 years. He is doing great! Has a wonderful (seems) girlfriend with a little boy (not Les'). She was with him.

We had a great visit. I gave him all his dads photo albums (we always got double prints and when I left, I took the loose photos and left Mike the albums). Told him the Triumph that has passed down in his dad's family will be his when he is ready for it. It is NOT to be sold, but to stay in the family. There are a couple motors he and his dad were working on that I want him to have back. His fishing equipment and some of his dads tools and a few other odds and ends.

I was so surprised. But it was a good afternoon and I have been grinning ever since.