The first time I met Mark Landes was late October in 2012. I did not know that this man would have such an impact on my life. He has taught me so much, even though it is not his job. My mom, sister, brother and I stayed with my grandma for two years before my mom met Mark.

Mark had three older daughters that he had raised, then suddenly he gained two more girls to raise. “It’s been challenging, but I kind of knew what to expect,” Mark Landes, my stepdad, said. Luckily for Mark, his girls are grown and have moved out, so he just has Hanna and me to raise in the household. “Yes it is different than raising my girls because I have gotten older and I do not worry about the small things as much,” Mark said.

My sister and I have been raised by Mark since we were ten. “It is a whole different challenge. There are not the sleep issues you have with a newborn because that is really tough. You girls (my sister and I) have already developed your own personalities, so it was more about me adjusting to you girls than you girls adjusting to me,” Mark, said.

It feels like Mark is my real dad because he has been there way more than my biological father has. He did not have to be my stepdad. He chose to raise my sister and me. My real dad never calls, but Mark has been there for my sister and me before we were even in high school.

The word “stepdad” to me means a man who has stepped up to be the father he did not have to be.