I think each of us lives many lives and it is very rare that lives can intersect.
Last night, was one of those rare and beautiful times when that happened.
It was important to me that the people that I love be able to gather around the table and meet each other. The girls and their mom came over for dinner to meet Bill and his son Billy.
One of things I have been most grateful this past year is the restructuring of how to maintain that connection with the girls and grow in my friendship with their mom. When I left my last relationship, Cynthia was so supportive and was very clear the girls would always be sisters and we would figure out our own way to make that happen. What a gift to feel that me and Mina would still have a place in theirs lives.
In June, when we gathered, I told them I had started to step into dating again and was unsure how the girls would respond, especially the littlest because she was a baby when her dad and I got together all those years ago. I didn’t know how she would feel about me dating someone different. Both girls in june were so supportive and told me: “We love you and we want to see you happy again!”
Last night, I was able to introduce them to Bill, someone who makes me feel very loved and happy. It was important that they meet him and his son and to know our crazy weird blended-of-sorts family was growing bigger.
It was also important for me to have Bill and Billy be able to meet the girls because they were once a huge part of my life and still are in their own way.
It amazes me to see how natural it felt to have all these lovely beings moving in and out of my house. Kids setting the table together, Cynthia making food in the kitchen, Bill opening wine and serving everyone. We actually had to extend my dining room table to fit everyone around it.
I kind of sat back, watched it unfold and it really made me smile.
Family doesn’t look like what many might think it should look like. It’s about people who are open to allowing all the people in their hearts and around the table.
We built a bigger table and our belly’s were full from the warm food passed around and hearts were warm with kindness.