It's that time of the year for me. My woman parts are craving use, yet it ain't gonna happen. (At least anytime soon.) However, lucky me- almost everyone around me is having little ones. I have two cousins and a sister due by the end of the year. And to top it off my son's step mom just had her little one!

Last week she was just saying how miserable she was at pick-up. Then a few days later we got the call- my son is a brother, again! We scrambled to wash up from playing outside and when my husband got home we piled in the car and began the drive. I don't know if seeing and holding the baby made my fever any better. But when I saw the look on my son's face as he whisper yelled "he's just so stinking cute!" I realized how lucky I am. Not only to have my son, but to have the relationship I do with his father's side of the family.

I knew in that moment if I never have another kid- it is okay. He has 3 wonderful brothers thanks to his step mom. We visited for an hour or so, talking and laughing. And I wouldn't want it any other way. She has brought such joy to my son's life and I never feel like she is told enough how much I appreciate it. She chose to be a part of his life and loves his unconditionally- when she never had to. Maybe it's because I, too, am a step mom. Or maybe it's because I had a unique upbringing. But I never want her to question her value to me or my son. So, I've decided to never let that happen- she will be celebrated like we've been friends our whole lives or as if she were blood. Because, she became a part of my family when she married my ex. She is my son's step mom, and now she will always be his brothers' mother. No matter what happens, those relationships impact my son. I'm determined to support them and I can only hope that she feels appreciated and valued as a step mom.