Being an adoptive Mum is...

...jumping up and down with happiness and relief that my oldest has been asked out on a play-date by a friend of his in his class.  He was the only one asked too!  This is HUGE.  He doesn't have friends, he can't make friends, his 'friends' from the past have always been adults because he has needed the adults to help him to survive.  He struggles with his peers, he drives them away because he doesn't know how to behave properly with them.  Well now, he is on the road to proper friendships - yayyyy!

Being an adoptive Mum is...

...having your children's friends over for snack and some ArtsAndCrafts and feeling like a proper Mum, thinking, this is what it is all about.

Being an adoptive Mum is...

...being slated by supposed friends for enjoying your long-awaited first night out together kid free in six months: "Well you were the ones who wanted kids, now you can't wait to get rid of them!"  Hmmm....

Being an adoptive Mum is...

...getting emotional when your middlie brings home from school a party invitation - her first one!  OMG I am soooo happy!  And I am soooo pleased for her!

Being an adoptive Mum is...

...feeling like adoption has ruined our relationship, has lost me (supposed) friends too and makes some people treat me like a leper.  I'm sure there is some good stuff in there too, that's why I'm doing this blog, so I can see how things are changing / improving, to give me hope

Being an adoptive Mum is...

...explaining to your oldest son that even though you can't physically see him when he is at school, it doesn't mean you don't think of him or have stopped loving him.  You get advice to put notes in his lunch box which he absolutely loves and shows off to his friends at school

Being an adoptive Mum is...

...realising that hard times call for fast friends.  As told to me on the Adoption UK message boards

Being an adoptive Mum is...

...losing some supposedly good friends and gaining new friends

Being an adoptive Mum is...

...finding our who your friends and family really are.