Yours, Mine, Ours, and Theirs: Embracing Motherhood in a Blended Family

As Mother's Day approaches, we take a moment to celebrate the incredible women who have dedicated their lives to being a mom. One such woman is SDCEA resident Christi DeLeva, whose unique journey highlights the depth of a mother's love.

Christi and her husband have raised five sons, now adults ages 25 to 45. When the couple met 40 years ago, Christi came into the relationship with a son, and her husband came with two, all close in age. When the three boys started graduating high school, the couple decided they wanted to try for a child that was biologically both of theirs, and within a couple of years, they were expecting a boy. During Christi's pregnancy, their lives were blessed by yet another child: a 5-month-old boy who was being fostered by their neighbor. "When I was pregnant, I would go pick him up and play with him, then bring him back in the evening," Christi recalls. But when Christi found out this baby she had grown to love was going to be put back into the foster system, she and her husband filled out the paperwork the next day to foster him, adopting him a year later. The couple joke that it's "Yours, Mine, Ours, and Theirs."

It's no surprise that Christi adores being a mom. She was blessed to be able to stay home to raise her sons when they were growing up, instilling in them love and faith as her guiding principles. She shares, "I never let a day go by without letting them know how much I love them." Christi and her husband's dedication to raising their family in faith is a commitment they are able to witness come to life each Sunday as they watch one of their younger sons sing in their church's praise band.

As is the case with every family, Christi admits there were challenges, but raising them wasn't the hard part. She shares that the hardest part of being a mom is when your kids grow up. "Discipline wasn't a problem; they were all such good kids. But the biggest challenge is letting them spread their wings and go off and live their lives," she reflects. With her sons all in adulthood, Christi continues to be the same dedicated mother (and grandmother). Her older three have ventured out on their own, while her two youngest live at home, and she loves having them around. One son fills the home with music on the guitar and piano, and her youngest regularly joins her for pickleball.

Christi's story is one among many incredible mothers who deserve recognition this Mother's Day and every day. So take a page from Christi's book and don't let a day go by without letting the moms and mother figures in your life know how much they are loved and appreciated. Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing moms out there!

Photos courtesy of Christi DeLeva,