It has been 20 years since my ex-husband was diagnosed with a terminal illness. After his death, I remarried and gained two beautiful children through him. Since then I have experienced many ups and downs as the stepmother to these young girls.
As they grew older, it became apparent that we had some differences in personality that sometimes made things difficult for us all. There were times when it seemed like they preferred their biological mother over me, which was a painful blow.
Despite everything, however, I always remained committed to my role as stepmother and tried my best to be there for them whenever they needed me. I knew that family is not about biology but rather the love we share with each other and the sacrifices we make for one another.

I've had my fair share of struggles in life too - raising two young children on her own, working full time, and dealing with relationship problems. It's been a tough journey but I wouldn't trade it for anything because I've learned so much about myself and what matters most to me.
There have been many times when I felt like giving up but then something would remind me why I'm doing this - my children need me now more than ever, they're growing up fast and will soon be leaving home. It's a bittersweet feeling but I'm determined to make the most of every moment we share together.
I love nothing more than watching them grow into strong confident women who are capable of anything they set their minds to. They