A woman named Candice Curry wrote a letter to the new wife of her ex-husband, Ashley Parrish. It quickly went viral.
“To my daughter’s stepmom.
I never wanted you here. You simply were never part of the plan. Growing up and dreaming of my family I never included you. I didn’t want help from another woman to raise my child. I doubt you planned to mother a child that you didn’t give birth to. I can bet that your plan for your family included you, daddy and your children together, not me or my daughter. I can almost bet that when you dreamed of becoming a mother it would be the day you gave birth and not the day you married your husband.
In my mind you would be a terrible beast and my daughter would not want you to mother her at all, ever! I was hoping that you would be semi unattractive and prayed my daughter wouldn’t look up to you. Her daddy would know that he was settling for second best. Evil swirled in me because I never wanted to face the fact that another woman would mother my child in my absence.
Then you arrived.
When I first met you I’ll admit you weren’t what I had in mind. You were supposed to be hideous, remember? But you weren’t, you were stunningly beautiful, you were a young, sweet woman.
My plans were foiled.
I realized by the look on your face that meeting me was just as hard as it was for me to meet you. My heart immediately softened. Dang your kind smile! I was planning on really hating you. Why are your ruining my plan?! I wanted to resent you but you made it impossible and I quickly grew thankful for you.
You’ve accepted our daughter from the very start and have unconditionally loved both her and her daddy. You’ve included our daughter in everything you do and make her feel loved and accepted. You put her relationship with her daddy above yours and only a brave and courageous woman knows how to do that with such grace.
I knew when her daddy and I decided to divorce, there would be times when she would need me, her mommy, and I wouldn’t be there. You’ve respected my position as mom from the very start. I appreciate that you always check with me when you question if you are making the right decision with her. You are a gift.
Because of you and your courage to mother our daughter the way that you do, she will be a better woman. You are her mother when she’s with you and when she’s with me. She’s excited to call you and tell you her stories when she’s at my house. I fill with pride when you wrap your arms around me and squeeze for a genuine and loving hug each time we see each other.
I promise to always respect your input for our daughter. I promise to never lessen the position you hold in her life or make you feel like you are not her mother. I promise to raise her to be grateful to have two strong and brave women in her life that have the courage to mother her together.
Precious woman, you are a rare and beautiful gem.
God bless you and I love you.”
This is the answer from the stepmom:
“Candice, I don’t know what to say. I can write as pretty as you. All I can say is I cried reading this letter! You woke in me a fountain of emotions. Thank you for this letter, I’ll save it forever. I love you too!”
