З життя
Становление второй мамой: дочка мужа стала мне родной
Я и представить не могла, что падчерица станет для меня родной душой.
Когда Андрей рассказал мне о разводе, я подумала: ну, бывает, не сошлись. Но чем больше я узнавала о его прошлом, тем сильнее удивлялась, как он вообще это пережил. Его первая жена, Ольга, была совершенно беспомощной в быту. Ни супа сварить, ни пол подмести — только телефон в руках да свежий маникюр. Спасались полуфабрикатами из «Магнита» и редкими доставками из «Якитории». В итоге Андрей сам встал к плите после работы. А потом к ним переехала тёща — и брак рассыпался, как карточный домик.
Мы с Андреем встретились, когда он уже год жил один, а его маленькой Дашеньке как раз исполнилось шесть. Он переживал: как мы с ней поладим? А я сразу решила — если быть вместе, то принимать надо и его, и его дочь. Сначала мы просто обсуждали подарки для неё, вспоминали её привычки. Познакомились же мы только после свадьбы, но с первой минуты я прониклась этой девочкой. Весёлая, с искорками в глазах, она моментально растопила моё сердце.
Первый её день рождения мы отметили втроём. Потом были каникулы, прогулки в парке Горького, семейные просмотры фильмов… Даша стала проводить у нас почти всё время. Её мать не сопротивлялась — много работала, уставала, а бабушка постепенно взяла бразды правления в свои руки. И я понимала: так даже лучше. Мы с Андреем строили планы, уже считая Дашу частью нашей семьи.
Но скоро идиллию нарушила суровая правда жизни. Я заметила, что Даша совершенно не приучена к порядку. Не уберёт за собой, не разогреет еду. Даже чайник включить не умела. Я терпела, не хотела конфликтов. Андрей, видя мою усталость, сам брался за готовку, накрывал на стол. Но я знала: так нельзя. Если всё делать за неё, какой из неё вырастет человек?
Однажды я не выдержала. После ужина попросила Дашу помыть тарелку. Она уставилась на меня, будто я предложила ей слетать на Луну. Тогда я высказала всё, что накопилось. Резко, без обиняков. А через пару часов поняла, что переборщила. Мы поговорили по душам, я извинилась. И в этот момент между нами что-то переceso. Даша впервые взглянула на меня не как на чужую тётку, а как на человека, которому она важна.
А потом случилось то, что всё изменило. Я ушла по делам, Андрей был на работе. Даша осталась одна и решила нас удивить — приготовить курицу. Целой птицы не было, взяла филе. Высыпала туда всю соль, которая нашлась в шкафу. Когда я вернулась, кухня напоминала поле боя, а ужин был несъедобен. Я сорвалась, накричала, отправила её в магазин за солью. Она принесла… десятикилограммовый мешок. Маленькая, еле таща эту тяжесть, она стояла передо мной — и я разрыдалась. В тот миг я осознала: она старается. Для нас. Для нашей семьи.
С тех пор я взяла Дашу под своё крыло. Мы начали учиться готовить вместе. Сначала получалось коряво, но теперь она справляется без моей помощи. Даже у себя дома она помогает бабушке на кухне: и варит, и убирает.
Недавно нашему с Андреем сыну Мише исполнился год. И Даша сама испекла для него именное печенье. Принесла, смущённо протянула коробку, а у меня слёзы выступили. Не от умиления — от гордости. От понимания, что всё не зря. Эта девочка — не просто падчерица. Она стала мне родной. Частью нашей новой семьи.
Знаю, многие мачехи и падчерицы не находят общий язык. Но я счастлива, что у нас всё иначе. Да, были ошибки, слёзы, но теперь у нас есть доверие, уважение и любовь. А разве не это главное в семье?
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