See Ya Later 2010

2010. Wow. What to make of this year ????

In addditon to parenting Alex 21 and Bobby 12, we  foster parented several kids this year:
Baby Dee 8 months, AK 13, Cal 12, Jared 11, Baby Boy 3 months, James 14, The Littles 4 and 5 and their baby brother: The Littlest 7 months...  

All have left, though James is still with us.  Although that changes every time we speak to a Social Worker or Therapist.  He is either with us for four years or leaving this month.   Whatever. We are just going with the flow.

Our two oldest girls have made the next steps in settling into their adult lives: our first foster daughter made us Grandma's with a beautiful baby boy and our oldest foster daughter moved to Las Vegas with her fiance! 

Too many kids to keep track of some days - I need a dance card. Never mind the card.  I just need to dance. With The Other Mother, of course!

I'm tired of mothering right now. Cranky even.  My heart is a litle raw from all the energy invested and all the good-byes.  Don't get me wrong -We've been blessed with continued contact with Baby Dee and her Mom, phone calls from Cal's grandma, phone calls from another Mom whose kids we cared for in foster care several years ago.  Her 2 boys go to school with 2 of our boys from this year (it's like a strange little club: kids who have been in foster care at our house share this "common bond" at their school... a little bit odd that they wound up all together there and we live an hour away.....

Anyhow - we are enjoying the break from foster parenting and will use this time to assess our next steps: Move to a different New England State? Adopt? SeminarySchool? Change jobs? Fix and repair our house or sell? Sell my parents' cottage? Help Alex buy a house?....Wayyyyy too much to think about, which is why I am not gonna think about it today...tomorrow is another day.

Personally, I am looking to get healthier, lower the blood pressure, get more limber (yoga?) lose some inches and get a few pounds smaller and keep feeling good about life and not letting my tendency towards depression get the better of me. Keep reading and sewing and making free time with friends and The Other Mother a priority. No specific goals - but a general focus and direction I can refine, and hone as the month goes on....

I am so grateful to be going to Orlando in a few short months to connect and see with my very own eyes a few dozen of the amazing women from across the country that have held me up throughout the year with their love and encouragement and wisdom and  humor...........

The Other Mother has taken the boys skiing for the second day in a row and I am left here all by my lonesome. Yep. Alone.  Well, alone except for 2 cats, 3 dogs and a 21 year old who works late and sleeps even later.

Our dear, dear friends (Cindy and Patty) are coming tonight for lobsters, corn on the cob, home baked sourdough bread with salad and baked apple pie made by my 86 year old neighbor...yummmmmmmmm. A little wine, a sip or two of champagne and watch the fireworks on the lake.....a  very Happy New Year, New England Style.

Wishing you and your families a very healthy and happy year ahead!