Meet the Rabatins!
It was the best man toast profound enough to make People Magazine.
“The day has come that this man is getting married. I’m not too sure how I feel about all of it,” Jaydon Rabatin said. “Don’t get me wrong. I love Brie. Isn’t she the most beautiful bride? But this means I’m losing my bachelor buddy. We go waaaaay back.”
“It’s like I have known him since my first breath I took,” he added.
Those words uttered by 10-year-old Jaydon melted the hearts of guests at dad Kevin’s wedding to Briana Custodero on November 12. And so began the story of the Rabatin stepfamily.
Upon meeting her now husband in 2014, Briana was aware of Jaydon but was not introduced to him until eight months into the relationship.
“When he [Kevin] told me he wanted to introduce me to him [Jaydon], I felt honored, because I knew he was serious about our relationship,” Briana shared.
Asked how she feels the relationship with her stepson has evolved since that initial meeting, Briana stated, “I feel like a second mother to Jaydon and I would like to think that Jaydon sees me that way as well. We have grown so close over the last couple of years. We can joke around and I feel that I have really picked up maternal instincts. Jaydon knows that he can come to me if he needs anything. I give him advice but he also teaches me things too. He's a very
smart kid!”
Currently, the Rabatins have custody of Jaydon every other weekend and usually one night each week. They enjoy physical activities as a family, including jumping on trampolines and running obstacle courses, but also make time for Saturday morning breakfasts at a local diner.
But stepparenting has not been without its bumps in the road. Briana experienced hardship early on when her stepson began spending weekends with them in their home.
“It was difficult because I didn't know how to deal with not having all of Kevin's attention…I felt selfish sometimes.”
Despite those initial upsets, Briana has been able to adjust to her new family life. “I know that Jaydon is my top priority too. In my vows I promised to love and protect him as my own son.”
Asked what the future entails for the Rabatin family Briana stated, “I just want to say how lucky I am to have the two most wonderful guys in my life! We're pretty awesome the way we are, but Kevin and I do plan to have a baby of our own in the near future, so that will just add to the excitement.”
