Readers Respond: You Know You're a Foster or Adoptive Mother When...

How would you finish this sentence? One of my responses might be, "...I show up to church each week with a different child." or "...my phone won't stop ringing on Mother's Day because several past foster children decide to call me too."

Why she loved me, I'll never know.

Your foster daughter says, "I love you, because you didn't have to love me. But you did anyway." When you see your foster daughter cry because you told the a** hole behind you in line that indeed we are a family, you just get around. You lie to grant a child a feeling of belonging. My mom isn't related in anyway shape or form, and yet it is with great pride I declare her such. Granted permission I would honor my mother, crown her as the most amazing person in the world. She loved me just because & that's why I will ALWAYS love her. Thanks mom.

—Guest emma

Foster Mom

Getting that first card from our foster daughter. She was 1 and my hubby took and helped her pick out the card. This is the 2nd mothers day without her as we lost our court battle to adopt, but I will always remember that smile when they gave me the card.

—Guest Cathy

when the phone rings at 3am

and they say they are on their way around with twins. Looking at the clock, its 3:30am and you have 2 hysterical babies screaming their little hearts out. DO YOU COMPLAIN .......... NO WAY - AT LEAST THEY ARE SAFE !!!

—Guest sarah

I know when

we all get in the car to go somewhere and there are no more seat belts; or is it when they are all arguing over whose "mom" i really am; or when we are standing at "my" daughters baseball game or sons basketball game with our three newest additions "hanging" on me...I think best yet is when any one of our 6, ages 22 to 3, need that maternal bond and come running to me!!

—Guest Lori

MOTHER OF MANY

I LOVE THEM ALL THEY ARE STILL MOM TYSONS BABIES ALL 210 OF THEM

—Guest MARY

You know you're an adoptive mom when...

you can't give details regarding your own child's birth or the months before he/she moved into your family, but you remember the exact day he/she moved in and every detail... when you're asked if they're both yours and you mysteriously answer yes and get the "look."

—Guest Guest MJD

You know you're an adoptive mom when...

you get christened with being peed on, 20 minutes into a 10 hour flight back to our forever home. you get bit, screamed at, spit at due to a freaking out child on the first night together, but you look back on these things and smile because three years later, you are a close family who love each other, and it was sooo worth it

—Guest Melissa

when they tell you

"You're the best!" or "I love you" or just give kisses and hugs for no reason at all.

—Guest Melissa

you know your an adoptive mum when...

after 5 years of trying to bond, they hold your face, look you in the eye and say...."I miss you my mummy"

—paulasaunders

I know when....

as a newly (not thru the entire process yet) adoptive parent when I can look at our newly taken family picture and feel just as much pride for one of the new ones as I do for all the original ones...we have six total and to be able to watch your own youngest who is used to getting her own way (way too often) back down and invite either a foster or an adoptive one to join her and her friends play is very heartwarming. Or to watch your teenage son read with your newly added kindergartner is so rewarding!

—Guest lori m

You know you're a foster or adoptive mom

When you go to McDonald's and you need more than one table and none of your kids look like each other and people just can't figure out the whole thing. I think it's a riot and love to keep people wondering, unless they are polite enough to ask "are they all yours"? And then I will give them some type of funny answer and let them know I love-----------dragging 6 or 7 kids with me wherever I go. I wouldn't change a thing.

—Guest Doreen Reedy

You Hear...

...MOM!!! and find a trail of blood which leads you to the bedroom where somebody has kicked someone in the nose but didn't want you to know they were horseplaying. ...whispering, but can understand every word being said because you told them not to wake you up in the morning. ..."shut up" one time too many and before you know it you've said it yourself even though you despise the phrase. ..."how're your boys (or girls)? " and you say "which ones"? ..."how many children do you have?" and you look at them with a bland stare and just say "lots"!

—Guest Ms. E

First Mother's Day Card

When you receive your first Mother's day card and then every year I get one..I think yes I have done it.

—Guest fosteringinct