Growing up I had this idea of how my life would be (who doesn’t right). I grew up in a pretty tight knit family. Weekends were spent with my grandparents playing with my cousins. We went to Mississippi every Easter and hunted eggs with 100’s of relatives. Each holiday was always spent surrounded by family. I naturally assumed that when I was an adult with my own childrens lives would be the same way. When I was in 8th grade we moved to Georgia. I knew that when I married that my family circle would be smaller that what I had grown up with but I still had the dream of my children playing and spending time with their aunts, cousins, grandparents etc.
Fast forward many years later. After many years of trying to conceive without success, I finally became a mother through the joy of adoption. I wanted my daughter to have that same family bond that I did. I remember my aunts picking me up and taking me to their house for the weekend, the many times my cousins and I played in my grandparents yard. There truly was never a dull moment. Sadly though that is not the case for my beautiful daughter. Because of our location many of our family members are just too far away. We are left with a very small number of family members in our immediate area. Sadly though my daughter seems to be last on many of our family members lists. It is just downright depressing at times. She is the liveliest, silliest, most fun loving child I have ever met!! She never meets a stranger, and more than once I have had instructors, teachers etc. tell me that they cannot keep a straight face because you just never know what will come out of her mouth!! I have spent many nights upset asking myself what can I do to make them come around. I was convinced their presence was necessary. I have finally come to the realization that my hands are tied. The bottom line is you cannot force someone make time for you. We all make time for what is important to us. If someone isn’t making time for you, it means you are not a priority in their life.
Instead of dwelling on who is missing from Madison’s life I will choose to focus on what/who she has instead. She is showered with love by two parents who love her more than life itself. We live in a wonderful community filled with friends who we love and care for very much. Madison may not have cousins that she plays with each weekend, but when I look our my front door I can see the homes of at least 6 families with children that she will spend hour upon hour playing with, and parents that will show her both love and discipline. If our family cannot see what a wonderful beautiful soul that they are missing out on it is their loss. Just like Jess C. Scott said, “Friends are the family you choose”.
The Booher Family 