A Reunion With My Son After Three Years

[Julie Marie]

I knew when my daughter moved in with me there was a better chance of having a reunion with my son & step son, both of whom I haven't seen in almost three years.  The other day my daughter says she's going out to a sushi restaurant with my step son.  "Is he coming in?" I asked.  "I think so."  My heart skipped a beat.  I raised him since just before his fourth birthday.  I have always been dad to him.

I had about 30 minutes to emotionally prepare.  I went upstairs to check myself in the mirror.  When he arrived my daughter answered the door.  I was standing a few feet behind her.  His eyes said a lot.  He looked uneasy but more surprised.  Yes, I've changed a lot in three years.  I gave him a hug and welcomed him in.  We didn't talk much.  My daughter was starving.  I did my best to ease the tension and threw in a little humorous remark about how I looked.  "Yeah, it's different!" he said. 

After they left I called my girlfriend and told her.  I was feeling sort of numb. 

The next day I asked my daughter if he said anything at dinner.  She said she asked him what he thought.  He said, "It will take some getting used to!"  That was all he said.

You have to start somewhere.  It took my daughter a while to become comfortable around me and she lives with me.  So I didn't expect miracles.  Maybe my younger son will be next but that will be a much tougher task.

Julie

[IsabelleStPierre]

Julie,

That is great to hear and gives me hope that I'll be able to see my kids someday too. Not seeing them has been absolute murder on me...and actually I did try to murder myself twice this past year over that very fact...but you give me hope. Thanks!

Peace and love,
Isabelle St-Pierre

[shanetastic]

That's awesome Julie!!

Congrats, and I hope he gets used to the whole aspect with some more time.

[RebeccaFog]

Hi Julie,

   I'm happy for you.  I wonder if it might be easier on your son and stepson because they don't live with you.  I mean, they will have time to think about what is so wrong with it all.  If they lived with you, it would be too overwhelming.  Just a thought. 
   A good first step, though.  And a good reason for others to not murder themselves (Isabelle).  It's one thing to not have access to your children NOW, but that will pass.  You can't take advantage of that future opportunity if you're not here to do so.