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Dorothy Copus Brush This Mother's Day will
"Never disagree with your boss"
is good advice, but when I read Friday's column on May Day baskets
I had to add something. It is true Mike Moser is much younger
than I, but May Day in Ohio was a day to hang homemade construction
paper baskets filled with wildflowers on doors. Then, just as
Mike described, we rang the bell or knocked and then vanished.
The difference was we left flowers, not candy. It just goes to
show how this younger generation has changed! Enough about May Day and on to thoughts about
Mother's Day. Our family welcomed a new baby boy born in July
1999, so his mother will be enjoying her first Mother's Day. When our No. 1 son was divorced, he had a
daughter and son both in college. Before his second marriage,
his soon-to-be wife knew these young adults well, and they had
a close relationship which she enjoyed. But it did not fulfill
her desire to experience watching a baby grow from birth to adult. Both son and wife were busy professionals
and under stress most of the time. Her biological clock was running
out of time, but pregnancy eluded them. Eventually they turned
to experts and embarked on medical treatments. She was a real
trooper, but each time the process succeeded it ended in the
heartbreak of an early miscarriage. Finally they started investigating the many
avenues open for adopting. So many babies in so many countries
were available, but after months of researching they registered
with an agency for an American baby. After more months of scrutiny
by the agency they were given the name of a pregnant college
student in Texas. They met her and the father, also a student.
Long family histories were exchanged, and a mutual agreement
was reached on adoption. The two couples were separated by many
miles, but our son and daughter worked for airlines so they visited
Texas often. They kept the phone lines busy and got regular reports
on the prenatal checkups. By June the delivery date was very close,
but there was another important event about to take place. Son's
adult son was graduating from medical school as the first M.D.
in our family. Our blended families from the first marriage all
gathered for the ceremonies and enjoyed a weekend celebrating
that great accomplishment. A month later the call came from Texas one
night that labor had started. Our daughter was airborne in no
time, but it was a stormy night and she was delayed halfway there.
She called the hospital and talked to the mother until the nurse
intervened, saying it was time to head to the delivery room.
Daughter had hoped to be there for the birth, but she saw her
new son several hours after his arrival. There are many legalities involved in adoptions.
The natural parents tearfully signed the necessary papers the
night of the birth. Several days later, when baby was released
to daughter, they both had to remain in Texas for some time before
the court gave permission for them to return to their home in
Massachusetts. After a six-month wait, son, daughter and Andrew
appeared before a judge in that state and were given the final
OK that Andrew was theirs. We, the grandparents, had raised a family
of four, now all in their late 40s. Over the years they had presented
us with seven grandchildren, all now young adults. The oldest
grandchild had added our first great-grandchild to the fold.
So it was turning the pages back to welcome a brand new baby
grandchild. Andrew immediately captured the hearts of the whole
family and delighted us with his antics. So it is that I wish all you mothers, whether your first or you have experienced many Mother's Day celebrations, a happy Mother's Day. But I especially wish our daughter-in-love a very memorable first Mother's Day! |