Originally Posted By: claire7
Hope-- think about those fears. .. you are letting them get the best of you. You are strong and resilient. You are not destined to be alone. In fact, it's entirely possible that you'll end up with someone who week not only be a great husband, but a great step-dad, too. (My MiL ended up with a 2nd husband who worships her and loves her kids like they were his own). And your D will not have the same childhood as you, because she has YOU--strong, resilient YOU-- as a mom. And if her dad is not so great? Well, you will be able to help her navigate that, by getting her whatever support she needs to deal with it.


I'm working on them. Really, I am. My H actually has a wonderful stepdad. They had some rocky years when H was a teenager, but I know that his stepdad (the guy I consider my FIL) loves H just like he loves his two biological kids. Really, my D7 is not his biological granddaughter, but he adores her, and she adores him. I was talking to him once and he said, Don't tell the other kids, but D7 is my favorite of all the grandchildren. So, despite my personal experience with not-so-good stepparents, I know there are AMAZING ones out there.

The truth is, my D7 and I both deserve better/more than what H is offering right now.