You’ll spend years thinking you’re a crappy parent just because you’re not a traditional mom but that’s bunk too. Your kids will love your silly, haphazard parenting style and they will experience things because of your job that you haven’t even dreamed of yet. They’ll love your spontaneity and overlook the areas in which you’re lacking (for now). They’ll also have an obnoxious number of pictures of their life with you that they complain about as kids but I’m pretty sure they’ll appreciate it as adults. You’ll experience more love than you’ve ever dreamed of.

And there’s this man. This red head (seriously, you fall in love with a red head) who is the kindest person that you’ve met in your life. He’s selfless and strong and is leaps and bounds over those punks that you’re dating now. I know you don’t like nice guys now but you will. And it will change you. You’ll learn kindness and selflessness (errrr, well still working on that one) and how to love someone with your entire heart. There will still be times that you want to punch him in the throat but those are few and far between. He is the best husband. The best father. And, wait for it, you meet him when he already has a kid. That’s right, little miss “I don’t want kids ever”, you get the baptism by fire treatment. You’ll stumble through it and come out on top.

So let’s sum this up. You’ll have an amazing life. Quit being a morose, grunge-infused whiner and look forward to the joy that is coming your way. And, while you’re at it, make sure to cover your navel because in a few months you’ll get sent home from school for dressing like a tramp. And you’ll tell your kids that story and they’ll laugh hysterically. Life is good. Just wait, it’s coming.

(image by Jon & Emily Beaty)

For those of you who have been part of the mini session-a-palooza, check our Facebook page for your sneak peeks…coming tomorrow!

My beautiful boy is about to turn 9 next week. N-I-N-E. How does time go by so quickly!?!??!? I was having a very adult conversation with the boy the other day about how special he was because I CHOSE him to be my son. Something the other kids never had. We went on to chat a bit about his birth mother and I found myself getting more and more anxious. That talk brought up a good bit of angst for me. As an adoptive mom, I always am worried about the birth mom coming back and taking my son away from me. I know we signed papers where she gave up all rights to LM. I know that I’ve raised him since he was 9 months old and he knows no other life. BUT I have such fear that one day he’ll whip out the “you’re not my real mom” phrase or feel a gap in his life that is enough to send him on the search for a woman he never knew. It made me realize how overprotective I am of the boy compared to TLC & Peanut. I want to wrap him in a smothering blanket of “you are my son”-ness and not let the mean old world hurt him in any way. How blessed am I to have this handsome boy who has his daddy’s kind spirit and gentle heart?

Happy early birthday, my Little Man. You bring so much joy into my world. I am the lucky one.
Love, Mom.