A few days ago I started a 1000 piece puzzle with my son W. He was very excited about it as he won it in a gift exchange game at a family Christmas party. He bugged me for days to get it started but my answer was always “after Christmas.” Sure enough on the 26th we got started on it. I use the term “we” loosely because he lasted 5 minutes before I was on my own. “I don’t even like puzzles, but I hate things being unfinished even more”, is what I texted to my best friends S.
Sometimes my daughter K comes in to help me. As a 13 year old she’s usually engaged in her own thing but she still very much wants to engage with the family… on her terms. A few times my step son H lends a hand. He is kind, and enthusiastic and brings a lightness and positivity to the situation. My husband A comes and joins in too. He admits that puzzles aren’t really his thing but he still lends a hand, I suspect to be with us. W says it’s a lot more work than he thought it would be and leaves to play NBA2k23.
So I have been chipping away at it slowly, mostly on my own while reflecting as it is close to the end of 2022. This puzzle is an excellent metaphor for our blended family. We all have our role. Sometimes we are all together and those times are great. Sometimes we are all here but doing our own thing. Sometimes we are in different places and not together at all, but we are each our own unique piece of the larger puzzle. We don’t force the pieces together. We build on our strengths and it makes a beautiful picture.
Behind the Yellow Door 