Question 27. blended families

Dear 21st Century Dad, get a load of this picture.

Tom and Mary marry. Tom and Mary give birth to two beautiful boys George and Tony, four and eight years old. Tom and Mary divorce. Tom and Chelsea hitch up. George and Tony visit Tom and Chelsea every 2nd week end and Wednesdays. Mary moves in with Bill, who has a daughter Nancy, 13 years old, from a previous marriage. Nancy visits every 2nd weekend and Tuesdays. George and Tony are at home, Mary and Bill’s, every second weekend and away Wednesdays over at Tom’s. Mary and Bill give birth to a beautiful girl Shelley. Tom and Chelsea give birth to a beautiful girl Barbara. Chelsea decides to have a birthday party for George. No way says Mary. The birthday is to be at Mary and Bill’s not Tom and Chelsea’s, but George wants the party to be at Tom’s because the house is bigger and we will let him have 14 kids for his 14th birthday party.

I couldn’t care less where the kid has his party.

The problem is the grandparents. I forget who they are. I only know that one or two sets drive, or is it three, and one set doesn’t. The set I don’t like needs the ride. I already spend my life in the car driving everyone back and forth. I think all this stems from the fact Mary and Chelsea throw knives at each other. But maybe it’s that other set of grandparents.

And guess what? I forget my question. I think it has to do with something about in whose house George has his birthday party.

Dear Confused with All This Blended Family Stuff,

What’s to say about blended families, except that everything is a factor of multiplication. We need more boxes of cereal. Bigger cars. More toilet rolls. Probably at least a second computer. Better stress management. Infinite amounts of patience. And more potential for grandchildren.

Fortunately, love and love of life can be divided exponentially.

Perhaps we might start planning for Nancy’s marriage guest list. In another ten years, her four parents and eight grandparents might have multiplied too. The whole city might be related by then! And that’s just one side of the family.

Let’s maximize the Excel program on the computer. And maybe save up for a Blackberry. They are a lot more portable than social secretaries.

Finally, be expedient. Rent a hall big enough we can avoid our ex partner’s mother in law’ s boyfriend’s son’s karaoke, and if we are feeling a little playful, room to do a dancehall jig with our bright faced lass.

Google
1. Berkeley Parents Network. Can you mimic this site’s cooperative method of finding blended family holidays.

Key into YouTube:

1. Real Families, Real Answers