I went to a pioneer party this weekend.  Well actually it was a graduation party.  It was a special party in the fact that it was for one of my good friend's son. 

I've known him since he was 3, before his parents were divorced.  Then they got divorced and did an every other week split, which was pioneer material at the time.  There were lots of rough spots along the way.  Both she and her ex remarried, so there were step-parent issues. 

The ex actually remarried a second time and now has a two-year old.  Her husband the step-father was also divorced and had his own kids and ex wife to contend with.  It was a lot to keep track of. 

Honestly, I'm surprised they made it.  There were times that I thought the dad and the step-dad were surely going to come to blows.  My friend just stayed the course and kept making decisions that were in her son's best interest.  Her new husband often didn't understand, as he wasn't able to do that with his ex-wife. 

Anyway, the short of it is they had a lovely graduation party together.  Everyone was cordial, and I felt very little tension in the room, certainly none from any of the step-parents and so on. 

I had a nice conversation with the step-dad at the end of the day.  He said, "You know, when I was going through it, I could hardly stand it.  I'd wonder, 'why does she put up with that, or do this or that,' and she'd always say 'it's about my son, not my ex'.  But now, I see that what she did worked and that her way was much better than the other way.  I'm glad we worked through it."  What a testimonial............and I'm glad because she was the inspiration when I found myself floundering down the divorce track.  I hope we inspire others to do the same.