Regardless of what happens with this baby that you may be able to adopt...

I encourage you to allow yourself to grieve over the loss of homeschooling your (biological) children and no longer being a "dance mommy." You're having a case of pre-empty-nest syndrome and there are no 2 ways about it- it's just painful! The heartbreaking thing about mothering is that we give life through our very bodies to these human beings we come to love more than Life Itself... only to have to release them, someday, into the big world. We hold on, only to let go. Your feelings of loss and confusion are normal and appropriate. It is correct to mourn what was precious and beautiful, but is now lost. Give yourself time and patience and the freedom to feel what you're feeling.

We will all be there someday. Whether we have 1 child or 10, there will be that Last Diaper Change, Last Dance Recital, Last Math Lesson. Ouch.

NM

This post was edited on May 19, 2012 07:21 AM