Uniting versus Dividing

My father was the son of Gibert and Helen Larpenter. Grandpa met my Grandma after the death of his first wife. When they married, not only did Grandma take on the job of wife but also that of mother to three young boys. Grandma and Grandpa went on to have 8 more children.

One thing that I remember about my grandmother is that she never made any distinction between Grandpa's children and their children. Never once did I hear the words "step" or "half" come from her lips. They were her boys and she treated the same as she did her biological children.

My dad was even more adament about his brothers never being called "step" or "half" brothers, and he'd correct anyone who brought it up. He viewed them just as much his brothers than the ones who shared his mother.

I heard someone the other day talk about their step children and children and it almost made me want to cry. Why not just accept them all as your children and throw out the words "half" and "Step". Those words tend to have negative connotations and tend to bring division. Does the "difference" need to be pointed out? Especially when it comes to children, love them all and accept them as yours!

Just my thoughts . . .