My birth parents divorced when I was 18 months old. My Mom remarried when I was almost 3, and my stepdad officially adopted me after he married my Mom.

I remember the conversation between my birth dad and my stepdad. It was cordial and they both wanted the best for me.

I remember telling my birth dad that it was ok. If he didn’t want to be my dad, I’d just demote him to “uncle” and he could love me from there.

45 years later, my stepdad is my “real” dad. My bio-dad is a fond, extended family member. And my mom has been a rock of steady the whole way through.

It’s not a full adoption, but I can’t imagine my life any other way. Glad there are a few of us out here that rolled a good roll in the adoption game.