Well, its come and gone and I’m happy to say that it went as well as it could have.
I sent the children with their homemade valentines that they were so excited to give. On their own they had determined that “mommy might be sad, but these will make her happy!” And they were right – she loved them. It was actually perfect because she had brought valentines for them as well!
She also brought bags of adorable new clothes for all of them. Unexpected and wonderful! She bought Sprout a nice pair of boots that I’m pretty sure have not left his feet since Monday. Perhaps I should remind him to change his socks.
Even better than all of that, she gave Sprout some wonderful keepsakes I know he will cherish. Like a note describing his babyhood – when he walked, talked, first words, favorite foods, least favorite foods, her memories of him always wanting to be held and looking just like his father from the minute he was born. Speaking of, she also gave him a picture of his father – the first one he had ever seen (his father passed away when he was a newborn). So amazing. And for the girls, she gladly filled the 2 disposable cameras I sent with pictures of her and them so they will have evidence of this time even as their memories fade. I can’t wait to see how those pictures came out.
She also wrote them all a note reminding them that she will always love them and that they did nothing wrong nor was anything their fault. She wrote a beautiful note to A and I as well. Keepers for sure.
Jury is still out on whether contact will continue and in what form, but like I said, this “final” visit really couldn’t have gone any better.
Our Growing Family 