Family

Tomorrow I'm meeting one of my nieces. I haven't seen her since she was in grade school. She's now married and has 5 year old triplets!!! When my brother and her mother split up, they became estranged. Her mom remarried and my niece was adopted. In the last year, he wanted to find her but was unable to locate her. Unfortunately, due to his death, I was able to locate her in a few days. It has been a wonderful thing for my heart to bring another one home to the family. I recently did the same with another brother's son.

What's interesting to me is both kids thought they would never be in touch with our side of the family again. Makes you wonder what values were instilled in them. Or was it that the pain was too deep. I've been trying to begin the healing with them. My nephew had a reunion with his father, and it has been joyful for all. My niece is taking her time at getting to know about all of us. Her life has been good, and she's not sure how to incorporate all of these new people into it and how to make sense of it for herself and her kids. She's very sensitive and considerate of everyone.

I find that if you open your heart, and give them time they begin to open theirs. Then the curiosity begins. It took 6 months for my nephew to decide to see his father. No one in the family knew we had been in touch. I just built on our relationship and let the rest of it come naturally.

No one else in the family knows I'm going to meet her. I can't wait to share it with them. They'll be so excited. We've been in touch by phone and email for the past two months. But there's nothing like a big old hug and kiss from an aunt, is there? Oh...maybe I should rethink that. I hated having to kiss my aunts when I was a kid. But in my heart & mind, I still think of her as the child I once knew, but really she's an adult. It will be an experience for me too!