“My Barb”

Before she called me Mom, I was My Barb. I loved it.

I met my daughter when she was 10 years of age. If not by the grace of her dying Uncle Ray, I would not have any children. But, he needed to grant a wish for his best friend before he passed away.

The wish was a child for my husband, Rick and me. We’d been married 9 years with no pregnancy. And, all that time Rick had a daughter living only miles away. But no one wanted to tell the secret.

Ray could not leave this world holding on to the secret. Much to his older sister’s dismay he broke the news to Rick, his lifelong friend, that his niece is Rick’s daughter. Rick and his sister had an affair when he was 17 and she 19 and married. Who cares!

I couldn’t conceive and here is a perfect child created by my husband. The kid was born before Rick and I met. No reason for wife-weirdness. Bring me that child!

After an emotional and successful introductory arrangement, we were smitten with each other. All of us. Two weeks later she moved in with us. An arrangement agreed by all. She was elated because she found her father. She knew through her 10 years that the man married to her mom wasn’t her real dad. Her history was even more complicated. But, that’s not the point of this story. Bring me that child!

I had no intention of replacing her mother as she joined Rick and me under our roof. She needed time to enjoy the discovery of her father. It was a beautiful thing to watch. Both of them were in heaven. I loved it.

Our family unit fell into place, immediately. She started school, and made new friends. She quickly learned the dynamics of the house. We quickly adjusted to this new person in the house. I loved it.

She had friends over one afternoon. I overheard them chatting about walking down the street to the park. I heard her say to them, “Wait, I need to go ask My Barb.”

I melted into a pile of goo.

“My Barb” lasted about a year. Then, out of the blue, she called me “Mom.” Either one will do.

Listen to this story and more here.

If you liked this story, you might like: Saving Christmas. The story of a mom making Christmas special for her daughter.