Second Chances in Love

Robin's Mom and Dad

Everyone should be able to have a second chance in life, in relationships, and in the mistakes we may have made. That was what happened with my Mom and my Dad in the summer of 2019. Mind you, they had been divorced since I was eight years old. And my Mom made the best choice in giving custody of my older brother and me to my Dad. There was never any fighting between my parents. My Mom was simply young, 18 when she had my brother and 23 when I came along. LOL, I was the baby who was to help their marriage. But life happens. I was lucky, because even though divorced, they always worked together in their parental responsibilities. It did affect my relationship with my Mom a bit, but we managed (somehow/someway) to truly have a special bond. Thinking about it now, I think sometimes we had squabbles as sisters do.

            My parents getting along well made my life so much easier, and honestly, they always remained on friendly terms. So when my Dad returned from Tennessee (after leaving his third wife) to Massachusetts, my Mom was concerned about him. You see, my Dad, a month after coming home, had a “Widow Maker” heart attack. These types of heart attacks usually kill you, but nope, not my Dad.

            My Dad was in the hospital for weeks. I had an 11-year-old daughter, an 18-year-old son, and a small farm to manage, plus being in Boston at BW Hospital for my Dad. I called my Mom, and I said, “Mom, I need help up here with Dad and my kids”. My Mom said okay, and she came back to Massachusetts, too.

            And that’s when the MAGIC happened. My Mom and Dad reunited, got an apartment together, traveled to our Florida condo together, and enjoyed each other’s company, lol, most of the time. It didn’t feel weird or anything. Honestly, they were quite amusing together. There were a few times my Mom and I would squabble over my Dad, because she forgot she wasn’t his wife, and I was his overly protective daughter. But my Mom and I both figured out how to love the man (my Dad) the best way we could. We all enjoyed BBQs together at my house with my children. My son had an amazing relationship with his Papa, and my daughter had a beautiful relationship with her Nana. To watch my children be so happy around their grandparents brought me so much joy. We spent the holidays all together and have such beautiful memories of my Mom and Dad. My Dad was forever a jokester, and we would all laugh so hard at the stories he told about my Mom’s driving and cooking. Lots of love, laughs, and happiness.

            Even though I lost them both, only two weeks apart, in November 2023, I cherish every minute I had with them. It was a lot, caring for them both in the end. But now it’s been a little over two years since they passed. I miss them a lot, but then I think about how lucky my kids and I were to get to spend my Mom and Dad’s final four and a half years with them. What an absolute blessing, and for that I will always be grateful. So, cheers to my Mom and Dad in Heaven, may you rest together in the sweetest peace. <3