In my profile on Facebook there are six children listed as mine. I specify that only two of them are my biological children. The other four are children I have helped raise but with whom I have very limited contact or in the case of the two youngest girls – no contact at all.
One of the most discomforting things about Facebook is that, depending on its useage, it can render important relationships trivial; easily stripping words of their meaning. Unlike business networking sites like Linked-in, for example, where business contacts are labelled connections; on Facebook, the merest of acquaintances can be a friend, sibling or parent if the user wishes them to be.
So when I listed these children as mine I was very cautious for two reasons – I no longer lay claim to the title of parent, a word that should be considered a verb more than a noun (if you aren’t actively parenting then you aren’t actually a parent) and I have no wish to offend the biological parents of these children.
I do however love these children, who have become estranged from me, as my own. And like all declarations of true love – I am happy to shout it from the rooftops.
The Ladies – J&J
The Ladies - modelling
These girls are really worthy of their own post each, but I promised I wont blog about them (boy, wish I hadn’t done that!) and I intend to be good to my word. This is just sending out positive, loving vibes to them both and to send the message that I think of them (like my other missing children Jacob and Shosh) everyday. Gosh girls I love you. You are both amazing and special in your own ways. All power in the world to you both … I can’t wait til we see each other again … someday.
