Let’s face it. I was a lousy parent. Step parent to be exact. When my wife and I got married, she had a daughter that was 5 years old. I tried to be a parent, but I guess the connection was never there. Her real Father was not in her life and I think she resented him over it. I wasn’t much better. I spent a better part of her child hood hooked on meth and binge drinking. I always managed to hold down a job and support my family. But I was young and not prepared to be a parent. I never had any children of my own.

My step daughter gave birth to a baby boy 5 years ago. The moment I held him he became mine. I have never been able to separate myself from him. Thankfully my daughter lives just 2 streets over so I get to see him all I want. Yet, when I am apart from him I get really depressed. I think now I know what it is like to be a parent because I have now been around a child since it was born. His Father is not in his life so I am the next closest thing. I can not begin to tell you how much this child has changed my life. People tell me I am not the same person anymore. I have done a radical change for the better.

Is it possible to become so attached to a child that you can become terribly depressed to be apart from them? Is it possible to be so attached to a child that they change your life forever?