Happy Birthday Aniela!!!!!!!!!

On December 16th this lovely young woman turned twenty three years old. This is Aniela my step - daughter. I've always hated the term step - daughter, it reminds me of Cinderella and her evil step - mother.I don't think our relationship is at all like theirs.

I met Aniela when she was eight years old. she was a tiny feisty little girl. With long brown hair big brown eyes and already a beautiful dancer. I feel in love instantly.

I have to confess that it wasn't an easy transition for me to go from single chick to a married woman with a step daughter over night. Aniela lived with her mom but was with us often. I was afraid to cross that fine line. Was I her friend or a mother figure? Should I discipline her or leave it up to her parents? I never wanted to try to take the place of her mother. She already had a great mom and I surely didn't want to step on any toes.

Through the years I did make mistakes. I didn't get as close as I would have liked to, and it really took me a while to find my place in her life. I like where we are now. We are closer than friends and much more than a family member. I love her like my own, worry about her and admire her.

She is an over achiever who breezed through college in three years. She didn't take any summers off, just went straight through. After college she worked day and night to save money. Her dream was to move out to California and pursue her dance career. She trained as a ballerina for years, danced in the company at Festival Ballet, and then started her own dance company in college. Amazing!!!! After her ballet training she started to dance hip hop. Granted we weren't crazy about that at first but after seeing her in a competition we were blown away.

So today Aniela is out in California doing everything possible to survive. And everything possible to make her dream come true. The one bit of advice I told her when she left was, have no regrets. Don't come home until you are satisfied.

We miss her terribly. But at the same time are so incredibly proud of her. How many people actually go after their dreams? Especially when it takes them across the country and away from everyone and everything that is familiar to them.

Aniela will be home for Christmas on the 22nd . We are growing very impatient. We all can't wait to give her a huge hug!!

Happy Birthday Sweetie. I think you are amazing! I am sooooo proud to be your step- mama!!!!


And to all my friends in blogland, thanks for the calls and e-mails expressing your concern about my absence. We are all fine just busy, busy, busy!!!