The Truth

So the subject came up today about families. For those who don't know me (which is alot of you!) I have a large, pretty damn blended family. My parents were divorced when I was three, my Mom got remarried when I was 22, after dating my Dad for 10 years. And yes, I call him my Dad...something that only started as a joke after they got married, and then stuck.

When you have kids come along, explaining these complexities can be difficult. We have tried to be very good about acknowledging all the grandparents (did I mention the hubby's rents were divorced and remarried...yep four sets of grandparents). The kids used to be confused when they were really young, but have kind of caught on recently. Who are the brothers, the sisters, steps and not.

Today we were talking about when Grandma (my Mom) and Papa (my Dad aka stepdad) were married. We talked about when Grandma met Papa, when they fell in love and how they got married. Here comes a nugget of knowledge I never thought I'd hear, at least not from a seven year old.

Sister: I know why Grandma and your real dad got divorced.
Hubby and I whip our heads around to her .
Me (trying to be cool and nonchalant, but sucking at it): Oh yeah, why?
Sister (sensing perhaps this isn't the most freely discussed topic): Um, I'm not sure I have it right.
Hubby (always cool and collected): Tell us what you think.
Sister: So, Grandma and your dad got divorced because he drank too much beer and couldn't take care of you.
I almost spit out my drink, and didn't have the heart to tell her it wasn't beer, but Cutty Sark whiskey, so much so that he named our dog after it...but you really shouldn't sweat the small stuff.
Me (trying not to laugh my ass off): Hmmm, you're right...who told you that?
Sister: I don't know.

Let me guess...would it have been my Mom, the woman who put up with his drinking ass for not too long but just enough to carry a 30+ year grudge against the man. Not sure, but I am guessing probably. She did tell Sister the truth though. Gotta love my Mom!