[nawlinsmom]

I just had to write this, especially being a single mom it has really hit me over the last month just how important my extended family is to me, so it left me wondering if there are others out there that are taking their families for granted, I would love to hear your stories as well. As you can tell from my name I am from New Orleans. I know everyone has seen the horrible pictures that came out of here for the storm but what no one has shown is the compassion and the pulling together of neighbors, families, co-workers, and strangers. I am one of the blessed ones and only had minimum damage to my home it is very liveable. On the road for 4 weeks with my 3 year old son was an experience that I hope to not have to repeat. After about the fifth day he stopped asking to go home, but it was just horrible on him being away from everything he knew and loved and not understanding why he could not go home. Since we have made it home, there are little to no grocery stores, no fast food (which I miss the most), pre-school still closed, etc. So life as we know it is not available. This is where our families and friends have come to the rescue, everyone is pulling together taking care of the children, watching them while we try to work, shopping for us when they find a grocery open etc. So from now on when I want to complain about being a single parent, I have to count my blessings that I do have so much help around when I need it. How do others help you? I am interested to here all of the wonderful stories for a change.

[florobin]

I'm fortuate to have a good family support. I really realized it yesterday. My dd daycare is closed on Monday and I can't take the day off. My mom is going out of town today so she can't babysit. My brother would be able to watch her in the am. There is school on Monday so I lost all of my potential sitters.

My mom offered to cancel her trip until Tuesday and my brother offered to change his work schedule so he could watch her all day. He is going to watch her so my mom can leave.

It is truly a blessing to have family and friends who support you.

[mckenna]

nawlin, first, glad to hear you and your son are doing ok!!
is there anything we can do?

it is funny i should read this today. yesterday, it was 87 degrees here and when we woke up it was 55 (going to be a high of 61). i really don't know what i was thinking but i got my kids ready and put my son in long pants and a short sleeve short. for some reason, i thought that would be enough. by the time i dropped him off and the baby at her day care, i started thinking that is not warm enough. i called my wonderful friend and she stopped by my house and picked up a jacket and brought it to school for my son!! she is the best!!! thanks for making me take time to stop and think about how lucky i am!!!!

[nawlinsmom]

mckenna, thanks for asking but I can't think of anything we need outside of our city getting back to normal which is going to take a long time. There was a local news report done last night and they are saying that our Parish had only 50% of residents return so it has affected everything. No workers to open stores, fast food chains, most businesses, etc. There are "help wanted" signs up everywhere. We still don't have regular postal service, phone service, garbage pick-up (you know all of the things we take for granted) so it is sort of like living in a different place. I work in the healthcare industry and our city has lost all but 3 hospitals, down from 10 and most of the physicians. Our teaching hospital as well as our Charity Hospital have been deemed uninhabitable so they will have to be torn down, it is so sad to see our home as we know it gone. I am sure it will be back but in what form, it is hard to tell. Again thank you so much for asking. And I love to hear happy stories so thanks to both of you for contributing to this thread. Take Care

[Jackobanzi]

I love that you started this positive thread!

Probably THE thing I worry most about is that I'm making a conscious choice to be a single mom. My own mother said, "Now that I think about it, you'll have more help from your friends than I ever did from your father." While that makes me laugh and is TOTALLY true, it also reminds me to appreciate my friends.

I live overseas and am going through the adoption process. I have to do the paperwork here, in the host-country, as well as in the US. There's some cross-over, and mail from here to there is at least 3 weeks each way. If I had to do it myself, it would be a two or three year process! Luckily, I have indispensible friends who are helping me with that in the US. I've also got a friend who has just had her last baby and is handing down everything from a gorgeous crib to onesies and bottles.

You're right - good friends and family are wonderful! Thanks for reminding me that it will be OK!

[waitinginnj]

While thinking about adoption, so many books and articles emphasized the need to stand strong and push back on those that don't approve of your decision etc.
When I decided to adopt, I asked my family for their honest feedback and "last chance" to speak negative or forever hold your peace. They embraced my adoption fully.

I lived about 40 minutes away from my parents and sister. One of my decisions was to move closer to my family, so that my daughter would have a support system close by.

My sister provided daycare for the first year and 3 days a week the second year that my daughter came home from Russia. I can't express the level of thanks that I have for her doing that. I know that it was instrumental in my daughter's attachment and progress.

They continue to be such a great back up system for emergency daycare to a quick visit to the doctor to occassional free babysitting to helping set up for a birthday party. They are my sounding board too.

My friends were supportive and so was my extended family. I also met such great friends through the adoption process. My daughter has an extended network of caring people which makes me so happy as I worry about her being an only child in a one parent household.

[linda512]

I am waiting to adopt from Guatemala and don't think I would have the courage to do it if I didn't have good family support. My parents and sister live in the same city as I do and my brother and his family are just outside the city. I also have some great support from friends. It is hard for me to ask for help, but I know I will have to and am lucky to have the support I do.
We need to start a family day for all supportive friends and family!