Being an adoptive Mum is...

...'G' word warning!: feeling guilty over just thinking about taking an adoptive child out of school for a holiday

Being an adoptive Mum is...

...your littlest one being old enough to walk middlie to nursery and back without the pram, being liberated (from the pram), going the long way around the park, splish-splash-sploshing in puddles, racing to the next puddle with Mummy, wiggling our arms in the air like aeroplanes, getting absolutely soaked to the skin and not caring a jot

Being an adoptive Mum is...

...watching the whole school celebrate my older son's achievements since he started there.  One example his teacher gave was that he met his whole term targets in one week!  We were immensely proud parents, sitting at the back of their special celebration assembly

Being an adoptive Mum is...

...learning the hard way to dramatically lower the expectations of yourself as a Mum that you had before you adopted.  E.g. thinking that when they arrive you will have them stay at home and bond, like the books say, and then realising that you desperately need respite and so sending them to nursery / school can't come soon enough!

Being an adoptive Mum is...

...letting your three year old type her 'name' on your laptop because she has been learning how to type at nursery. And then having to redo all the settings she has accidentally changed!

Being an adoptive Mum is...

...letting your three year old type her 'name' on your laptop because she has been learning how to type at nursery. And thinking is three too young to be introduced to computers? Next she will be friending and then defriending me on Facebook!

Being an adoptive Mum is...

...crying when you are ironing (yes I have been know to switch on an iron!) their name tags into their school uniform 10 days after they have moved in and bawling like a little baby the next morning when you drop them off at school because you have had them five minutes and then you have to let them go so soon

Being an adoptive Mum is...

...crying at their school Christmas play because you never thought you would see that day

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...

...feeling guilty about sending a child to school or nursery dosed up with Calpol and when you pick them up they look ghastly and shouldn't have gone in

Being an adoptive Mum is...

...not knowing what your child looks like when you pick them up from school because you have only known them for eleven days and you have to wait until you can see their face full on before you recognise them.

Being an adoptive Mum is...

...lonely in the playground when your child is new to the school and placed part way through the year.