So, I'm a... Stepmom?

So, about 7 months ago I started talking you all to death about a young man by the name of LeDon... and even though the relationship is difficult at best, it is still a beautiful connection between us... I miss him like crazy...

I know I mentioned once upon a time that LeDon has 2 kids... well, really only one, but that's another post all together... Anyway, LeDon has a daughter. Her name is Keyshauna. She'll be 9 on the 19th. His mother has permanant custody of her right now, as she has since Keyshauna was 18 months old. She's a really sweet girl, though she has some emotional issues that no 8 year old should have to deal with... her mother is MIA, and her father has been in and out of prison her entire life. I can relate, I guess, on a certain level because my father went to prison when I was 2 years old and I did't see him again until I was 13... and really didn't get to know him until 2 weeks before my 30th birthday when he was released from prison last year...

I met Keyshauna 2 days after Christmas. LeDon's mother and I had gone shopping to get non-perishables to send to her picky and very spoiled son... I don't know why I have this kind of effect on kids, but Keyshauna took to me instantly. I don't know if I just have that nurturing type of vibe, but kids love me for some reason... Long story short, she has spent every weekend at my house since we met except for maybe one. She calls me every day to tell me about school and to tell me she loves me. Here's the killer part, yo... she started calling me Mommy in January... I told LeDon about that one, you know what he said? He said I was the closest thing this girl has ever had to a mother other than his mother, so he didn't mind.... ain't that something?

I guess this is so amazing to me because I've never gotten this close to another child that wasn't family. I've dated guys who have kids before, but this is big time different. I've never spent more than a few hours at a time with those kids. This little girl has been to my house so much she's got clothes in my dirty clothes hanper and socks in my sock drawer. She's got toys in the living room and books on my bookcase. She's claiming my neices and nephews as cousins, told me she was gonna be the flower girl at the wedding between me and her father... I mean, WOW.

She's very possessive too. I think I know why though. I mean, the last time she saw her mom was almost 2 years ago. From what I get from her grandmother, the momma calls and lies to the girl, telling her she's coming to get her and never shows, tells her she's gonna buy something and never does. You know, dumb shit like that. My philosophy is and will always be NEVER lie to a child. It damages them so much more than it does an adult. Her grandmother told me that out of all of LeDon's ex-girlfriends, I am the only one that REALLY takes an interest in Keyshauna. That really takes the time to get to know who she is, instead of just buying a toy or an outfit just to get in good graces with Daddy. She also said that Keyshauna needs a positive role model like that in her life. Not that I'm the bomb like that, but I mean, I am smart, I do work hard, and I think I have common sense. And I explained to his mom that I was gonna be a part of this girl's life in some way for the rest of mine, because it seems like the people she cares most about leave her, and I'm not gonna do that to her if I can help it.

Look at the little cutie... she looks just like her Daddy too... has his silly sense of humor too. I love that little girl... probably more than I love her father.

I'll Holla!
J