THE WIND PHONE
It’s Complicated When You Break Up With A Dad
I could’ve been a stepparent, but my relationship didn’t last long enough
My ex has four grown kids who I’ve known since they were little. The last time I saw them all in one place was in 2005. I watched them while their dad went out for an hour. I wasn’t yet a mom and adored watching other people’s kids.
We spent more time together four years later when we started dating. We mostly had the two youngest girls, who were 9 and 11.
When we broke up, I had to leave them, too. It’s been an embarrassingly long time since we were together, but I’m still sad thinking about it.
I got to see the middle-youngest one as an adult a few times. Otherwise, they don’t know me, and it would be inappropriate for me to try to contact them. I did Venmo D some birthday money once and donated money for M’s surgery, but like Joaquin, I have to let them go.
Every so often, the Facebook algorithm will feed me a person I may know, like Joaquin’s ex-wife. I try not to click anymore because I get all the feels. But last night, I peeked at her profile. We’re on friendly terms, but we don’t consider ourselves friends, so I don’t request that of her.
