Dreams of a Little Girl

When I was growing up, my favorite show was the Brady Bunch, and my favorite movie was The Sound of Music.  As you may have noticed, the recurring theme for both is families with lots of children.  And they were happy.  Ok, I know, it’s Hollywood.  But in my little world, I was dreaming…I’m going to have a husband and six children!  Yikes.  How hard could it be?  Mrs. Brady was always so poised, and made it look so easy.  (of course Alice was always doing the work!)  And of course Maria was first the “governess” and then became the stepmother to seven children, and they sang, and danced and everything looked so wonderful.
So then came 2001.  My first son was born.  Holy cow, this parenting is so hard!  Sleepless nights, constant worry, and working full-time at a downtown law firm where leaving at 5:00pm meant you were working a “half” day!  I couldn’t believe I wanted SIX babies.  But of course, life got easier as you mature as a parent.  You figure out that you don’t have to freak out every time they cry, or fall, or scream your name out in the middle of the grocery store!  Then came my second son in 2005.  Two children multiply the stress level immensely.  All of a sudden I need to do two bedtime routines, two types of food, two levels of development…wow, while still working full-time in a suburban-shorter-commute law firm.  But again, we figured out our rhythm and parenting was manageable.  Just when we thought it was going to be a diaper-free year, our little girl was born in 2008.  Yes, it was another crazy adjustment.  But by then, I had started my own law firm, was able to take time off at my own pace, hired a live in nanny, and I was able to “pump” breast milk for my baby girl in my own office.
So my goal has been “half” achieved.  Three children isn’t quite six.  But I tell you what.  I am definitely a happy mom.  I love my family.  I have a wonderful and supportive husband.  I have three beautiful children who I love to kiss a million times a day.  (yes, they get sick of me doing that, especially my 10 year old, but I don’t care)  When I have an especially long day or stressful day, I love to come home and hug my family and everything in life falls in place.
This past weekend, we visited my brother and his family in Cleveland.  They have a four year old son, and just completed their paperwork to adopt a child (or two) from the Philippines.  They are now waiting for their “referral.”  I’m so excited for them.  I just love the adoption idea.  I have always said that if I financially capable, I would love to adopt a child or two (or three).   There are too many children in the world who need to be loved, and need a home.
I would watch “Adoption Stories”, a show on the Hallmark channel, and literally bawl like crazy.  I know to always have a box of tissue handy.  I feel so much for everyone involved.  The family that gives up the child, and the family that takes in a child.  So much emotion.  Yet, what an incredible difference you can make in a life of a child.  My sister-in-law told me of a couple they know who have two biological children, then adopted two from the Philippines, and are about to adopt SIX more children (who are all siblings) from the Philippines.  The story gave me goosebumps!  What an incredibly selfless thing to do.
So for now, I am going to enjoy every minute of being a mom to my adorable children.  But I know deep down that my dream of having SIX children may still happen sometime during my lifetime.  =)