You never know family until you see the real them. Sometimes the people who aren't family act better than an actual family. Joy is my step mom but my real mom. My first time realizing that was when my dad married Joy.

At first Joy was just a name until I met her. She’s not a very tall lady 4’9’’. The first time I met her was like the first time going to a concert, meeting your idol, or trying something new. I was nervous...I wasn't use to having two moms so I was kind of excited. My mind had the whole day planned out. I was going to meet her and we were going to spend the whole day together and play games. That fantasy went away when I imagined her. She was a monster that was shorter than me. Joy came in the room with claws the size of Texas, teeth like a dog, arms that hanged like a monkey. Maybe it was because I couldn't see my dad with another woman. It was like she was taking my father and I couldn’t have that so I was going to do anything I could to get her away. She wasn’t my mom and never would be. I was a 5 year-old on a mission.

When the day came to meet her my plan was clear make her think I was a bad child so she would leave my dad. Next there was a surprise ahead of me. My dad and stepmom were together for a long time about a year after my step brother and I were born. I came to meet her and to my surprise a younger version of me hopped out of the car. My baby sister I had no idea there was someone so little that looked just like me. After that I had to take a good look at Joy we weren’t related but when I looked at her I saw she would care and love me no matter what. She looked at me like I was her child and that was the first time ever seeing and meeting her. We aren’t related but she let me know that it didn’t matter in her eyes. She taught me a very thoughtful lesson that day.

My mom Joy taught me that blood doesn’t make you family love does. Years went by and she helped me through the toughest time with love. She was there for my graduation ceremonies, games where she was the loudest cheering my name, the National Junior Honor Society where she had that look in her eyes where you could see she was proud of me. We do a lot of mother daughter activities she’s my support system. It takes a lot for someone to have no relation to another to step up and be there for people.

Everyone needs someone special in their lives who will love you unconditionally. Friends, family, step parents anyone can love you just as well as anyone else. It doesn’t have to be the people that aren’t family can be there for you the most. The faster people realize that the less hurt you will be.