Ten

10

Ten is a number that has many meanings. Recently Ten has come to mean a new challenge in my life.

Bo Derek’s movie 10 has been associated with physical perfection, although this standard is artificially contrived to promote an industry standard of beautiful people based on commercial exploitation of low self esteem.

Ten is a two digit number which can represent any number of meanings in our world today.

My Ten represents the age of my challenge. 

It has long hair, girlish freckles and changing hormones.

My recent change in marital status includes a Ten year old step daughter.

She is the product of a changing world where divorce creates unique challenges to continuity in a child’s life. 

My sudden arrival in the equation of parents and households has upset the previous fragile balance of parenting, schooling and home environments.

So, what is my role in this new matrix?

Husband and partner with my wife? Check!

Father and playmate to a step child? Not sure.

How do I integrate myself into this matrix successfully?

My parenting skills are minimal. Opportunity to raise my own sons and divorce denied me that lesson.

So … the wisdom of observation, intuitive reasoning, patience, long walks in the park, and creative sub-parenting are my subset to meet my “Ten.”

My hope is that this energetic freckle face child can be patient with a better late than never step father who wants to see a happy successful child who is able to meet the challenges of Ten’s in her life.

My life was once One, and that number was the loneliest number that I ever lived, so Ten is my lesson for today and tomorrow and hopefully a long time to come.

Our lives will always be filled with One’s, Two’s, Three’s and Ten’s. 

Our ability to meet and successfully integrate these numbers and life experiences will color and enrich our lives immeasurably.