Welcome back to Rooted&Real, cause what we say here is so real.
You know, the last episode I did on If You Knew Then, What You Know Now (If I Knew Then: Part 6).
I didn't realize it's so deep, it helped (people) so much, so I thought the last one would be my
last one, but I have this one!
And today it's all about blended families, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
See, in blended families, which I'm in one, you know, we post birthday photos, marching
outfits, you know, holiday pics, "We're one big happy family...",
So the pics say, but nobody posts the '2am conversations', the 'you're not my mum' moments,
the holidays split in two.
The truth is, it's all of it.
It's the good, it's the bad, and the ugly.
And if you're in one right now, or you grew up in one, this one is for you.
Because if I knew then, what I know now, I would have understood it sooner.
So let's start with the good, cause it's real too, right?
The good is when it works, when extra love shows up, when kids get new siblings and adults
get second chances, you know?
And remember, it's not perfect, but the good parts, they're worth holding on to.
Now, the bad, because we have to be honest here, the bad is the awkwardness.
The what I said there, 'you're not my real mum' comments, different rules in the same
house, holidays that feel like a math problem.
Honestly, nobody prepares you for that, but you just walk into it, hoping love will figure
it out.
And sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't, at least not right away.
And then there's the ugly, the part that you don't post, resentment, favouritism, kids
stuck in the middle of adult problems they didn't cause, silence at the dinner table
that's even louder than words.
It's ugly because it hurts people you love.
And if I knew then what I know now, honestly, I would have spoken up sooner or listened
better, or both.
So if you're in a blended family right now, I see you, I feel you.
It's not easy.
Some days it feels like you're building a bridge while walking on it, but the good,
the bad, and the ugly, all of it is part of your story.
And no, you're not failing, you're learning, you're loving, you're trying.
And if I knew then what I know now, I would have given myself more grace.
So dear, give yourself some too, you're doing better than you think.
Thank you...