To My Blended Family on Valentine's Day

A single mom of two gives up dating and plans her empty nest — then signs up for a long-distance husband and four step-kids. Because love.
Editor's note: We first published this essay in 2019, and it's such an uplifting modern love story, we just had to bring it back this Valentine's Day. When I met my husband and my four bonus kids, I already had two teenage daughters, and began to build the big, beautiful blended family I never imagined. My tally: two mostly sane, completely lovely daughters; one divorce decree I still couldn’t bear to look at; one well-used Netflix account (minus the “and-chill” option). My girls were already fluffing their fledgling feathers and planning futures that did not include me (beyond phone calls

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