Mother's Day is coming up in a couple of weeks.  My mother passed away when I was 22, but I still buy mother's day cards.  My mother was wonderful-- unconditionally loving, funny, creative, hard-headed-- the perfect mother for me.  She wasn't possessive though, and I was close to my friends' moms and my aunts, and other women.  These are the recipeints of my Mother's Day cards now.  I feel so fortunate to have had these women in my life.  They provide me with wisdom and encouragement and honesty.

My kids have plenty of people in their lives, and I encourage those relationships.  They were important while I was married, but they take on new meaning as a single parent.  Kids gain so much from different perspectives on issues.  I don't worry about my kids loving me (even when they are mad and say otherwise).  I hope this gives them the freedom to connect with other adults in their lives, and have those close relationships.

 My Daughter ws kidnapped at 17 months by her biological mother. It was the ONLY thing that she could think of that would increase our communication level....And it did.

  It took me 17 months, $32,000 & 12 trips to N.J. to find her.  And all because I let her visit with her mother after she abandoned her.

   (Praise God) I have her back now but,  unfortunantly for us all,I  lost all trust in the mother. I can't/ won't allow the same thng to happen again.

 It will be 1 year that she has been back with me (on the 15th of May). The pain of loss and emotion of reunion are still a fresh wound to me.I am deathly afraid of this happening again. So much that I quit my job to stay at home with her out of fear of not being there in the event that It happens again.

 If you can imagine the pain......................

 I am open for any suggestions or comments.

We had a few times over this past Easter break where my ex-husband was involved with our activities.  The kids wanted him to be around so I said "no problem" and kept smiling like Miss America.  However, it was very awkward and difficult being around him. 

Anyone else feel this way or have any advice?