[suzybeezy2002]

Just wanted to say Hi to everyone. I'm an adoptive mother of my two great-nephews. We have an open adoption, and my niece still sees the boys semi-regularly. My sister (their grandma) is still grandma (not Aunt) in their eyes - even though my other two kids call her Aunt.

It can sometimes be a tough balance to allow the kids to still maintain a relationship with my niece (who isn't altogether there mentally) and still assert myself in the "I'm the mother" role.

I was being more liberal with her, letting her go take picture with the kids, til I seen her post them on a dating website! OY Anyway, I stopped all that, but still the kids visit with her at my home and they calll her Mama Nicole. So while they're young, i think they get it - that their mom couldn't take care of them and that we adopted them and love them as if they were naturally born of me.

I'm excited to find this site and lookin' forward to getting to know you all better.

[Barksum]

I don't post on this forum much, but I do lurk.

We've adopted four children, one of whom is our grand-niece. We don't have face-to-face contact with many of the extended family members, mostly due to distance.

Glad to see you here.