Mid-May, we adopted him to better bond me with my younger step-daughter. At the time, the transition from one father to another every other weekend was fairly challenging, and it presented scenarios where she felt like I stole her mother from her, like I was not going to be there for her in the same way a biological parent would. On the advice of her therapist, my wife suggested that our daughter and I try adopting a pet together. It improved my relationship not just with our younger daughter but with the whole family, bringing into our family the sweetest, gentlest male energy in the form of little Theo. He was the calmest of the three Cream Tabby brothers we saw that day. I would have picked a more energetic kitten, but she picked Theo, further proving that she is the best judge of character in our family. In time since, he fell asleep every night for the first couple months in my arms, and my arms only to Baby Mozart. He bonded most with my wife who treats him like her favorite child. He hunts squirrels from the window. His palate has evolved from freeze-dried salmon snacks to organic rotisserie chicken. He is constantly perched on the master bathroom door. He drinks exclusively from tall cups. He had a near-death experience with some lily pollen. He has changed our life. The nine-year-old would still admit that she feels like I stole her mother from her, but our relationship is injected with a trust like I have never known, and she has forded the Two Fathers River far more ably than we could have ever asked her to, and we think it’s due in large part to our sweet boy kitten. Happy Birthday, Theo. You really live up to your name: “God-given gift.” We are forever in your debt. #stepdaddiaries (at Clayton, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/B87zKz7FQNT/?igshid=4nxr7dttav18