I consider us a blended family. Not in the "Brady Bunch" sense in that our family came together as a result of children from a previous marriage, but because our children are a mix of biological and adopted. It's actually more common then you think. I have many adoption friends who also have blended families as a result of infertility or secondary infertility.
At times it's hard and I feel like all eyes are on us and how we raise our daughters. I really have to treat them equally and do everything fair and square. It's hard because they are different age groups. I try not to favor one over the other, we try to spend equal amounts of money on Christmas and birthday present, etc. It's a challenge for any parent to be "even steven" all the time with their kids. As life goes on, kids will have different needs, whether they be emotional or otherwise and at certain times of their lives it may appear as if you are "giving more" or spending more time with one child over the other. I just feel because one of my daughters is adopted and the other biological, the magnifying glass is really on us, more so than a family with two adopted children or two biological children.
We do the best we can and do treat them and love the equally. I don't really think of them on two separate planes-to me they are just both my daughters. I love my older daughter because I can look at her and see a little bit of myself. I wonder what traits of mine and my husband she will have. On the other hand, I look at my youngest daughter with love and admiration. She is beautiful and already has a spitfire personality. She will be different and break the mold of our cautious family and for that I am glad. I am lucky to have the "Best of both worlds" as Hannah Montana would say, and will continue to strive to treat them equally and make sure they grow up with memories of a happy childhood!
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