The Land of Make Believe

Are there any facts in your life that you take for granted as being normal when they really aren't? This morning I was talking to my weightlifting coach and asked him how long he's been married. He said since 1988 and the wheels in my head started turning. I wasn't trying to calculate how long HE had been married, rather how long my parents had been married. They also married in 1988. I stated that and went back into La La Land thinking about what we should do for them next year for their 25th anniversary (which is rather complicated right now since it seems as though no one is speaking to each other much lately). 

I think I repeated to him three times that they married in 1988, totally not understanding why the quizzical look on his face. But... oh. Yeah. My dad isn't my "real" dad. I tend to forget that most of the time. He's the only dad I've ever had. And the only grandfather my kids have had. 

At some point I need to tell my kids about all of this, I guess. A few months ago, my son asked why my maiden name was different than their last name. I blew it off because I was completely unprepared to answer it. It's never come up since. But I know that I need to address it. It's totally going to blow the boy's mind when I tell him and it just never seems to be the right time. 

It's not a huge deal, but my kids live in a little bubble world where everything is perfect. They don't realize that my childhood wasn't traditional. (I hesitate to say normal because what exactly is normal??)  At some point they'll put two and two together (especially the boy) and figure it out and ask more questions. I'd like for them (and me!) to stay in that little bubble world. 

I don't want to tell them about my biological father. As horrible as it sounds, I was glad he passed away before I had to worry about the kids knowing about him. Not exactly someone I wanted in their lives (not that he was every really in mine except to pop in and out every few years). 

But at some point, I'm going to have to pull my head out of the sand and talk to my kids about it... You know, the grown up thing to do.