Mismatched China Patterns… May 10, 2017

 I attended a very special wedding this weekend with my husband and daughters. It was small, intimate and perfect. It was in an old small charming church that has become a place for artists to perform, art shows and gatherings. The pews have marks, fading and years of character – much like the couples who attended and have been married for 5 years, 20 years or 50+ years. Stained glass windows with marvelous colors. Strands of white lights, fresh peonies and love filled this small venue. The music played in the background while people mingled and met. Laughter and conversation in every corner. The ceremony was short and sweet and filled with God, words of love and tears from the couple. The young man officiating the ceremony was a lifelong friend of the groom. You could feel and see the love in the room as the couple exchanged vows. Something about a small intimate gathering that feels much more meaningful than an over the top large one. It was a family only wedding with the exception of a few close friends.

After the ceremony we made our way down to the basement – old brick walls strung with white lights…tables covered with white linen, a runner of burlap, slices of tree trunk topped with old blue Mason jars filled with light pink peonies and roses…very romantic and full of charm. The cake – lemon – favorite flavor of the couple….beautifully frosted and topped with Star Wars items – next to cake a framed quote from Lord of the Rings…couldn’t have been more perfectly matched to the couple. The groom a huge Star Wars fan and the bride a huge Lord of the Rings fan. It wasn’t a multi tiered fancy cake with the iconic bride/groom topper on it. It was elegant and PERFECT for the couple – anyone who saw it knew just how perfect it was.

The place settings were my favorite. They were a metaphor for this day. Each place was mismatched china patterns. These dishes were collected over the past year by the groom’s mom and sister. A dinner plate, then a salad plate and then a cup and saucer all layered on top of one another. Separately, you may not of noticed the beauty in a single plate or cup, but when they were all brought together it was a beautiful collection of different prints and designs.. As I looked at the place settings I couldn’t help but think of all the family that was there…all mismatched in a way. The bride’s parents who had been divorced and both remarried, The groom’s parents who have been married almost 30 years, and me, his birth mother along with my husband and daughters. We all have different roles in their lives – important individually but when we all came together it was a beautiful complete setting.

I never thought I would be reunited with my birth son let a lone be at his wedding. My family felt very welcomed given the circumstances. We could set aside any anxiety or uncomfortable feelings we may have had about the situation and come together for the couple. Such a wonderful day. I admire his family so much. Stepping back and watching his whole family laugh, love and be themselves kind of drove home the feeling of “This is all I ever wanted for him”. God is good. Life is good. Somethings just fall into place the way they are supposed to. We need to be patient. Love is patient and kind.

Congratulations Joshua and Hannah!

 

Caribou Coffee… March 31, 2017

Favorite mug

Do you have a favorite place? A place that reminds you of special occasions? A place memories were made? When you walk in to that place you are flooded with emotions? For me it is Caribou Coffee shops. While I am a HUGE coffee drinker, Caribou is special to me for something other than coffee.  My old neighbor – a young girl who I look at as a daughter used to work there. She gave me this mug and would bring me coffee. I use this mug when I want to write, sit on the computer and browse, have a relaxing afternoon pick me up coffee or reflect on why this coffee chain is so important to me.

Seven years ago I found my birth son on Facebook – realized we had a friend in common – my neighbor girl – they worked together at Caribou. Small world that of all the people in the world, our common thread was Jennifer…this young lady who baby sat my girls, who confided in me, who became like a daughter to me and lived right next door.

Me and Jenn

After I found my birth son – we got to know each other a bit through email….then it was time for us to meet. He picked Caribou. I still remember it as if it was yesterday – the nervousness of meeting this young man that I had given birth to 22 years prior and had never held. We spent the afternoon there talking, getting to know one another – noticing the similarities between us. It is hard taking 22 years and playing 20 questions. It is a day I will never forget and means the world to me. It was the start of a relationship and the road to healing for me.

May 2010

After a few years I decided to write my journey down – my journey of becoming a mom – including teen pregnancy, infertility and then adopting my girls. This slowly went from a blog to a book. One of my favorite chapters I wrote at Caribou. I was having writers block at home and decided to go there to write…I remember sitting at a table typing and crying. It was therapeutic for me. I needed to put into words 22+ years of feelings and thoughts that I had tucked away…tucked away thinking that I was ok. But the reality was, I wasn’t.

 

My book

 

Flash ahead to present day….I have a beautiful relationship with my son. But in the back of my head and the top of my heart I think about his REAL mom all the time. How lucky that he was to have her as his mom. But also knowing that the idea of me is a constant reminder to her that he came from me. I can understand her pain and discomfort of my relationship with him – I have two daughters that both have birth mommas. But their birth mommas are a world away in South Korea. My son is getting married next month and I will be face to face with his whole family….not knowing how I will be received. It makes me anxious. We decided that the moms needed to meet before the showers and weddings took place. Where did we decide on?? Caribou Coffee.

Once again I was an anxious mess, so nervous, so not sure how it would all go. I am pretty easy going but this time I was a wreck! I would be meeting my son’s real mother….the woman who raised him, got to have all the important milestones with him, the person he called “mom”. I was ok with all that….I was so fearful she would not like me….that it would be a painful reminder to her….that she would be even more uneasy with my relationship with this young man we shared. I walked in…(we were dressed alike!!) She stood up and hugged me. I felt that was a good sign. I had only one goal for that meeting (after breaking the ice) – to have her leave there knowing that I respect her so very much, I know that she is his mom and that my choices and decisions back when he was a baby were because I wanted SO MUCH for him….and though my plan didn’t go as expected, he got everything I ever wanted for him. I wanted her to leave there knowing I am a good person, I know the boundaries and the undrawn line in the sand and respect that. We spent an hour talking, laughing and being nervous. We ended our meeting with a hug. I cried on the way home hoping she would find peace. I know I am a reminder to her of where he really came from….luckily I can understand that.

My story has come full circle….I still cant believe this journey I have been on. I thank God everyday that I can have a relationship with Joshua and be part of his life. Funny how a coffee shop chain has been part of this incredible journey!

 

An open letter to a fellow Birthmom. February 10, 2017

This is so beautiful. It is written by a birth mom. I was so moved by it…I felt like her. I am her 20+ years later. I want to share it for all the other birth moms young and old. New in the raw, emotional journey or in a good place. Trust your self, feel the emotions, find the place to be happy. Love.

thisisimylifethisismytruth

Dear selfless soul,

Good morning. I woke up this morning happy. I woke up this morning smiling. It hasn’t always been like this; yet today I’m going to embrace it. Embrace this with me please.

I had a dream last night. I was walking on a nice path through the park with my son. I was visiting him. So you could say I was 20 years older than I am now. I must say I look good for being 45. It was a nice day out. He took my hand and told me had a surprise for me. He led me to this spot that was open. You could see the city below us. The sky was clear and flowers were starting to bloom. He held me and told me

“I understand the choices you made mom. I will always love you for being so strong and brave.”

I woke…

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Sweet 16…already? December 27, 2016

Everyone always says “Enjoy your children, it goes by way too fast”. I think today is the day I fully feel it. My daughter turns 16 today and I cant help but feel so nostalgic. It seems like it was yesterday we were tearing open our envelope to see our first glimpse of this little Korean bundle that made us go from couple to family.

I cannot fully appreciate these amazing 16 years without thinking about a young Korean girl a world away that was also 16 and pregnant. The SAME AGE as her birth child is now. (that in itself is scary!!)  Being a birth mom I can understand how she must feel every year on this day. A confusing ball of emotions – hard to sift thru and process. I wish she could see this to know how beautiful this little baby has turned out to be. She gave us the most precious gift there is. I so hope one day we will meet. A piece of her heart is with our family and it makes me so emotional thinking about it. I have a beautiful 16 year old daughter because of her decision. Her loss filled my void…there are no words to give that feeling justice.

I have learned so much from this daughter of mine…how to be patient, how to let go, how to trust, how to love when you are angry, how to understand what my mom went thru with a teenage daughter (sorry mom!!). I have learned some battles aren’t worth fighting – so I will make a different meal for you – not everyone loves steak, I will let your room be messy to a point because organization is hard for you, I will help you with your laundry, I will let you wear what you want even if I think the other shirt looked better, I will let you make up your own swear words, I will let you have screen time BEFORE homework because I know you need that. I will be your biggest fan and your biggest protector. I will help you succeed in the way that works for YOU. I will love you when we disagree. I will love you when you say you hate me. I will always be your mom before your friend. I will check your phone, your social media stuff and will delete things I find inappropriate. I will not care what others get to do…I am not their mom. I am YOUR mom. I will stay up late when I am dog tired to help you get thru hard homework. I will let you talk non stop about a boy. I will hug you when you want to mad. I will hug you when you are sad. I will be hard on you because I believe in you. I will challenge you because I know you can do it. I will let you fail so you can learn. I will also love you more than anyone else on this planet can…

On this 16th year of your life I wish nothing but happiness for you Madeline Elizabeth…or Maddie as you prefer. You are beautiful, talented, funny, self confident, smart, loving and strong…I have learned so much from you. Always be yourself. Remember, you are a pink Starburst!!!

Election over…now what? November 9, 2016

I went to bed last night like millions of people feeling hopeful that we would wake up with news that Hillary would have won…despite the numbers coming in. But instead I woke up feeling ill. Feeling let down and trampled over. I felt as tho the world came crashing down and there I stood in the rubble and fog and wondered “now what?”. I know a lot others felt the same way. It was more than just my candidate not winning, it was the idea that the other guy won. He won no matter what he has done or said or how he has treated people. To be honest I am sure others would have felt the same way in reverse had Hillary won.

My husband voted for Trump. His reasons for voting for him were viable and I respected that. He respected the way I voted. But I sat here this morning in tears trying to explain to him why I was so sickened by the outcome in hopes he could understand it.

I am a chubby white woman. Trump called an average size white woman a fat pig. That doesn’t define me and I know that. But I also know that it is no way to talk to a woman…period. That kind of talk degrades us and gives us all sorts of issues we need to deal with…and it is just mean. How can I tell my daughters body image doesn’t matter when we have a president elect saying a beautiful woman is a “fat pig and is disgusting”.

Being a mother of two Asian girls….American citizen Asian girls…but the way he talks down to people of other races and religions scares me. No my girls can’t get deported. But there are families out there that may get broken up. When you have children from a different country and culture you feel as tho you are protecting them and educating them just a bit differently. Honoring where they came from AND how good our country is.

Being a woman and a mom of two young girls, I want them to have the CHOICE. Not government telling them what can be done to their bodies. A woman that discovers during her pregnancy her baby she dreamed for wont live after its birth should not be made to carry that anguish on til the 9 months are up – that is cruel. If my daughter, God forbid got raped and it resulted in a pregnancy…I would want her to be able to exercise her right to choose. Pro Choice is not the same as Pro Abortion.

Being a mother of a daughter who struggles with learning disorders etc is picked on enough at school and misunderstood. She doesn’t need to see our president elect making fun of children with special needs.

Being a mother of girls, I want them to know they are more than just a great body. NO ONE has the right to treat you like a piece of ass….”grab your pussy” as our president elect has said. Woman need to be treated in a respectful way. No man should ever treat a woman crudely. It disgusts me.

I want my girls to love who they are meant to love. I want them to have the rights an equality to do so. How is loving a person bad – same sex or not. I don’t want someone telling them they have to fit in box A, when every part of their being is box B.

My concerns may be small compared to other reasons you vote for or against someone. But these are things that important to me as I raise two daughters in a world where are still trying to be equal in, treated with respect and dignity and want a role model for kindness and equality. I feel as tho American people are saying all those behaviors of our president elect are ok  and overlooked…and its ok t run a country with that behavior.

I know that Hillary wasn’t the perfect person – who is? But she had composure, class, treated all humans as humans, my girls could look up to a woman leader and know that anything is possible in this big scary world. I know they will see that happen in their lifetime and that gives me hope.

I am saddened and sick today.  But I know nothing can change that. All we have is hope. Hope that Mr. Trump will bring this country together vs. further dividing us. I hope that he can make positive changes that people are looking for. I hope we have a peaceful transition when he takes office. I hope the Democrats and Republicans can work together to keep us a great country. A country we can feel proud about vs. feeling like a laughing stock to the world. Mr. Trump…do not let us down. You have very big shoes to fill.

 

 

Angry Momma not Super Fan… October 30, 2016

   This picture is a perfect resemblance of my feelings. This post is not going to be tender and full of sappy emotion…but is going to be raw and truthful. It’s the only way I can truly vent my thoughts and feelings…..So if you are not ready to read something of this contact….abort mission now.

Every home football game our high school has  a section of high school kids called the “Super Fan” section – It is only for the high school kids and they dress a theme every game. I am reminded by my daughter who LOVES to sit there that parents and middle school kids are NOT WELCOMED there. I reassure her every game we go to that worry not, her parents do not even want to sit in the middle of screaming crazy high school kids. We enjoy the end of the stands where adults and other kids sit.

My daughter LOVES to dress the theme and sit there and cheer on the team like every other kid. It gives her a spring in her step and a sparkle in her eye. Not many things do these days. It makes her whole week. She is a tough cookie – every single game she ends up in tears because of jerky kids that don’t understand her. But yet returns there every time because she loves the excitement of being with kids her age and the energy of cheering for the team.

Now, my daughter is one that struggles – socially. She cannot read social cues and cannot reason with social boundaries etc. That is no secret. No matter how many times I go over with her that kids who treat you like crap, are not friends. If kids are mean you walk away and ignore them instead of trying to win an argument with them.  Every game she is treated like crap by these kids. This week she came over to me crying and sobbing because this group of asshole boys were kicking her and hitting her. I know that her lack of social cues comes across to kids as annoying…I get that…more than anyone. But there is NO EXCUSE to treat people this way. We are all different and have things that bug one another. Things that others may not understand. I for one can totally judge a book by its cover to find out later how wrong I was.

As a mother of a child who struggles on a daily basis trying to find a place to fit in and trying to find that one friend who will accept her for who she is, I AM ANGRY. I AM ANGRY! I want every parent to know this crap goes on…teach your children about acceptance and not every kid is the cool kid, the pretty kid, the smart kid. But these kids are human beings that have feelings and just want to be accepted. We need to teach this. Schools need to teach this. Great – make posters, honor national anti bullying month, but EDUCATE our children on struggles other kids may face.

To those “Super Fans” I want to say – You are cruel. You break my daughters heart year after year and yet she comes back and thinks you are a friend. She has more grace than any of you. She is a bigger person and doesn’t even realize it. SHE COMES BACK FOR MORE BECAUSE SHE THINKS YOU ARE ACTUALLY HER FRIENDS. She has no idea what a friend is…a real friend. Shame on you. I am sickened by the behavior. That is not being a Super Fan. That is being a Super Jerk…..

When are you having kids? October 16, 2016

Since time began people have gotten married and started a family. It was just the natural progression in life’s journey. It was ‘just what you did’. Now more and more couples are waiting for various reasons to start a family…careers, age, finances etc. No matter what their reason is….it is NO ONE’S business but theirs.

So often couples get married…the wedding dress is barely off…thank you notes haven’t been written yet and the next sentence out of people’s mouths is “So, when are you going to have kids?”. I used to be guilty of that. But until my wanting kids turned into a blood sweat and tears fight, I started seeing that question as offensive, hurtful and down right rude.

When you ask that question – think about how intrusive it is. You are asking a couple when they are going to start having unprotected sex and create a miracle. How in the world is it anyone’s business besides the couple??? I get it, we all love the idea of a cute new baby…and most of the time you can picture the couple as great parents…still…not our business.

Finances: Having a baby is expensive. Perhaps the couple is scraping and saving just to live and the thought of a child at that point in time is totally off their radar.

Career: Maybe the couple is right in the peak of their career and wanting to succeed in it before starting a family.

Not wanting kids: YES, there are people in the world who do not want to have children. There is nothing wrong with that. I know many couples who don’t and they are just as happy. It isn’t a wrong decision, it is their decision.

Infertility: This I know from experience. I spent 7 years with my hubby TRYING to get pregnant. It was hard, emotional and tiring. The last thing you want to hear when you are heart broken that yet another month has gone by with a negative test, is someone asking “When are you two having kids?”.  It’s a knife to the heart. You fill with anger, sadness and feelings of helplessness.

Just a reminder that it is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. You do not know what that couple is planning, thinking or wanting. It is a private matter that does not involve you in any way.

Be kind and think first. Remember, when a couple does decide to have a child and do get pregnant…they will be shouting it from the rooftops with joy and happiness. Til then, let a couple be.