Our first date I saw a car seat in the back of his pathfinder. I was like “scuse me? you got some explaining to do.” I wasn’t saying out loud in my head “red flag”, but it did cross my mind. Oh shit, he has a kid? Well, nothing ever comes quite perfectly packaged like they said marriage did in the story books, so let’s just put that baby to bed. Marriage is messy and complicated and step-momming, well, yes, it can be tricky. And sticky. Messy. And also quite beautiful.