my family is not like all the rest (but then again who's is?)
Monday, Oct. 01, 2007 - 10:51 a.m.

E is learning all about the family dynamics in school right now. It's so hard for him to understand. He doesn't call me Grandma, he calls me Oma (in honor of our German heritage). I have always explained to him that I am his grandma, not his mom. He calls S his Opa. S is basically his step-grandpa. He calls my ex Grandpa Mike, because S's parents (who would really be E's step-great-grandparents) are grandpa and grandma. S's dad has been more a part of E's life then my ex, that's why he gets granpa and my ex is reduced to grandpa Mike. My ex wanted E to call him Dude. I said that would not be happening and he now knows him as Grandpa Mike. E's mom's name and S's daughters name are the same. It's all quite confusing. Poor E.
Last week a friend of his asked if I was his mom. He said yes. I corrected him and said that I was in fact his grandma. Even though we are raising him I want him to know in no uncertain terms that I am not his mom. It's very important that he understands that.
Last night we had to put together a box of items for a school project. It was supposed to have items from at least three generations so his teacher could teach them about the passage of time and about family dynamics. It was tough. We put four generations worth of items in the box. And I found myself sitting on the floor last night writing about our family on the inside lid of a shoebox so that he and his teacher would know that ALL families are not the same, but we are family none the less. I love my family. I love my grandson. Sometimes I wonder if we made the right choice in demanding that he stay with us forever. Only time will tell. For now I know our family is not like everyone elses, and I hope it's not too hard for him to understand.

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