When I was 10, my mom remarried, and I gained a stepdad, Jim. I kept my distance, convinced he was just trying to replace my dad. One winter, I had a small solo in my school holiday concert, but my mom couldn’t attend because of work. When I stepped on stage and saw the crowd, I froze—my voice wouldn’t come out, and panic set in.
Then I heard someone shout, “You’ve got this!” It was Jim, standing up and cheering for me like I was the most important person there. Something shifted. I finished my song, and afterward he met me with hot chocolate and a simple, “I’m proud of you.” That was the moment I realized he wasn’t trying to replace anyone—he was just showing up. From then on, Jim became more than my stepdad; he became family.
