First College Visit

My oldest is 17. We are on her first college visit. We just arrived at the hotel, and she crashed. I'm wired from driving. Here's the thing. I'm more pumped about this weekend than her because she is technically my stepdaughter. And she chose me to take her. I've raised her primarily since 4 y/o. Her father is still around, but at the minimum. When she asked me to take her on the first visit, I was over the moon. I've loved her from the moment I first spoke to her in the phone when she was 3. I spoke vows to her at mine and her mother's wedding. I was a stay at home dad 9 years. She now has 2 younger sisters too. Though she isn't part of my blood, she is part of my heart. To me, she's my first kid and she taught me how to be a dad. This trip feels like validation for all those years of putting in work. Thankless, typical parent work. That I thought she never even noticed. She did. I'm so proud of her, and I'm so grateful I'm her dad. via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/2mh5adQ