My three children.

There was a time when I felt I would never be able to imagine the feeling of mothering children, yet here they are, beautiful, tangible, a dream turned reality. Some people wonder if I feel like I have somehow given up on my “dream child” by becoming a parent through adoption, but that shows how very little they truly understand my heart. These children ARE in fact my heart. They are so much more than any dream I could have pieced together in my mind of the ideal family. They are REAL, and yes they are mine!

Becoming a parent through adoption you must ask yourself to leave behind any preconceived notions of a fantasy child. For some people that is impossible, they simply cannot believe that anything could actually be any more wonderful than that image of their own making, just as they believe it should be. If you allow yourself to move beyond that most primitive belief you will open up your world to whole different kind of love. My children have certainly expanded my world.

When each one of them came to me I had no idea who they were, what they would be like, and every day has been a journey in our learning about each other. I had the benefit (some see it as a hindrance) of actually not having any set expectations about who they might be. They certainly won’t have my father’s nose, or my mother’s chin, they bring with them special things that are uniquely their own, yet over time they each have also acquired many things from our being together as a family. Children might not be re-shapeable like lumps of clay, but love certainly can be.

As hard as adoption might be, I would not go back to change that aspect of my life. I am forever thankful for the opportunity to become a mom to them all. Without my being blessed by these children coming into my life and my heart I do not think I would have ever thought to begin the journey of learning and understanding that I am not a part of. I could have never dreamed them up. I could never have imagined how sometimes the reality that is my life could be so much better than all my long ago dreams.

My little Boogie, Poohkie & Smootchy this Mom loves you all completely!

Happy Love Thursday!