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About 1/2 an hour ago I got off the phone with M, Ty's birth mom. She had called earlier today, and we were at the hospital for DH follow up appointments so I let it go to voicemail. I honestly thought she was just calling to tell us she had gotten the pictures and letter we sent, and I sort of forgot. So earlier tonight I listen to the message, and she sounds kind of out of sorts and says she is just calling to make sure everything with Ty is "ok". I realize that she HASN'T gotten the pictures, and maybe since it took me longer than I would have wanted to send them (cause hubby was sick) that maybe she's starting to wonder if I'm really going to at all. I knew she had a lot going on, and she was planning to use some of the pictures when she told her family about Tyler, and her pregnancy and Ty's adoption. I called her back right away, and she sounded completely different, and was very happy and relaxed (her usual self) and said she HAD gotten the pictures, after she left the message. She was thrilled with them, couldn't believe how many we sent (about 25), and relayed to me how everything had gone when she told her family (after she got the pictures)...it went well and her family was very supportive. It was a little harder with her children, but it sounds like she has scheduled all the counseling they need right now. She also asked me if Ty's older sister could write to us (she's 6) and I said of course! She went on and on and on about the pictures and she just sounded so relieved and happy and was going through them again as we spoke. Said she couldn't wait to put them in the huge album we left with her before we came home. So I told her I was sorry it took so long, and asked if it was okay if I had Walgreen's (where we get our prints done) send the pictures right to her house, so there wasn't the week or so lag while I wrote a letter (since we talk on the phone anyway) and then got to the post office to mail them. She said it was okay, and was really happy...even offered to walk over to her closest Walgreens to pick them up if she needed to.
Anyway we got off the phone and I went on right away and ordered about 20 more new pictures we've taken and had them sent. The pictures seem to bring her so much joy, I would love to order her pictures every week or every other week while he's little and changing so much. It's only about $4 to send her 20 pictures! I was just wondering if that would get over whelming for her? Is that too much? Is there ever too much? Regarding calls...she usually calls me and I always make it very clear how happy I am to talk with her, and our chats are very easy going. I don't ever want her to feel like she's bothering me, but with 3 kids under 6 at home, I know she's busy, and till today, she couldn't talk about Ty in front of them anyway...should I also call her now? I can't wait till she gets e-mail! She did ask today if we were coming back to finalize in Missouri, and we aren't, which sounded like it disappointed her We didn't agree to any visits (it wasn't even discusses), but neither DH or I would be against it, maybe in the fall after we finalize I think. I would actually like to go when we wouldn't have any legal stuff to deal with, so it could be more relaxed without that additional emotional element.
I guess I just never could have imagined having this amazing woman and family in our lives in this way. She calls us Ty's Mommy and Daddy, and refers to herself as Ty's "M"...even the birth father, R shouted hello to us when I first called her back. I guess I don't know how to get it all down to her on paper. I have a very hard time even expressing to her on the phone how we appreciate her choice (she actually went to get an abortion, and things lined up in a way, she felt indicated Ty was meant to live) I don't even really know if that's something that a birth mother wants to hear? The appreciation etc? I told her today what a blessing Ty was for us, and our family, and that I would never be able to express that to her enough. But maybe she just wants to hear about the Ty, and his accompishments? I also love asking her about his siblings, since it seems like they have all been very easy going babies (as is Ty), and they are very similar.
Anyway, this was long...I guess I just want some guidance, and an idea about how "much" and "what" I can do for her...
I asked her for a family picture of them, and she said they had one and would send it out "In the first minute of tomorrow"...she's so cute ;)
I LOVE, LOVE getting pictures. The more the merrier. It helps to ease my mind to know that Supergirl is okay. Just let her know by your actions how much you mean to her. IMO, to have the actions mean more then the words.
If you are comfortable with calling her then do so. I would live to have L call me up when I didn't call her first. Let her know the little things that T has done. Or even to just call up and say "I was just thinking about you and wanted to say hi." It doesn't have to be a big thing. We all love the little things.
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Aclee, first of all, let me congratulate you on Tyler. He is an absolutely adorable baby!! I've followed your journey toward adoption ever since you joined up here, and I am so happy for you!
I love the way you're developing your relationship with Tyler's bmom. You are so sensitive and respectful where she's concerned; I can sense a lot of love on your part. Personally, I don't think there's any danger of overwhelming her with pictures of Ty. If it does get to be too much, she can always set them aside to look at another day. But from how you describe her reaction to the photos you've sent her, I bet she would enjoy lots and lots of pictures of the little guy.
She does sound like an amazing woman, with a lot of love in her heart for your family. As far as you initiating phone calls, I think that's wonderful, and I bet she'll really enjoy that. I just love open adoptions...it really is so much more humane and healthy on everyone concerned than the closed adoptions of years' past.
PS: I loved the pictures you posted the other day of Tyler! He's such a little cutie!! :D
Too many pictures? NO WAY! I wish I got more.... I am supposed to get them once a month, I am lucky if I get them about four times a year. My birthday came and went with nothing, per usual.
If it brings all of you happiness, keep sending them, what can it hurt?
ETA: This is just me, but I don't want thanks from kiddo's mom and dad. I gave him the gift, not them.
M's birthday was about a week after we got back. Combine the travel with everything that was going on with us at the time, and I decided NOT to get her anything. Part of it was we had given her several gifts while we were down there, and part of it was that I was terrified to do it this year, and then forget it a year in the future and hurt her feelings. I decided instead, that I would rather just randomly send her gifts a few times a year. Certainly Tyler's birthday, mothers day, christmas etc...Obvisously, it's too late to recover from that now, but is birth mom birthday a date that most would want recognized?
belleinblue1978
Too many pictures? NO WAY! I wish I got more.... I am supposed to get them once a month, I am lucky if I get them about four times a year. My birthday came and went with nothing, per usual.
If it brings all of you happiness, keep sending them, what can it hurt?
ETA: This is just me, but I don't want thanks from kiddo's mom and dad. I gave him the gift, not them.
Okay, so here's the thing - I am all for lots of pictures! I would love it! I begged for pics from Cupcakes (DD's) first birthday and I got one kinda funky pic of her that just wasn't very good. I've probably gotten about 10 pics sent in the past 15 months. Im not complaining, just letting you know where I'm coming from (of course I took a lot on our visit so those help too :) )
Anyway, pics are wonderful and great and I don't think you could possibly overdo it with them!!
BUT, I just would think about setting a precedent. If you're willing to continue this, great. If you're thinking you'll do this for X amount of time I would maybe just think about letting his bmom know, you know? (not saying any of this is your plan, just giving mho).
But overall I agree, the pics, the phone calls for nothing bug, are all great ways of developing this relationship! I hope it continues this way for you all - your son is very lucky to have you all in his life!
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I would only recgnize it in the way you would recognize anyone's birthday that's in your life. You don't have to be extravagant with it or anything. D doesn't know my birthday, and I don't know hers, but if I did I am sure I would send a card or at least an email or something. I don't have anything I could give her that would mean as much as what she could give me (a picture of A, a drawing from A, for example), so I would be lost on a "little something" like that....
I know that putting pics on line gets a lot of bad press here but, my g-nephew's parents have a blog and post pics every 3 days or so. It's wonderful!! I am close to his parents and can call anytime I want BUT I rarely do because, I get to see ALL his milestones plus TONS of pics. We communicate more via the comments on the blog these days!! My niece absolutely LOVES the blog. They also have a snapfish account we can access.
Anyway, that's not for everyone but it sounds like the birthmom is pretty mature and together. It may be an option. That way she can look when she wants, print out one or two and it's easier for you to keep in touch with her and your family - and note all his little achievements. Plus, blogging might be fun for you as well.
Just my cents!
Which she will get the address to once she has internet access. My blog is for everyone out there in cyberspace, but the family blog is more restricted...
I think it is anyway.
It's a great point though, so she can see whenever she wants!
I typed out this huge response, and now I can't find it. Shorter version. I don't think that I could do weekly, or bi-monthly pictures forever, no. Is this something I should outline long term now? I feel like right now she needs the pictures as the "proof" that Ty is okay and doign well. I would hope that eventually she could enjoy the pictures, and "need" them (for that reason) less. I was thinking (in my head) that maybe I could do at least 2X a month for the first 6 months, them maybe monthly till a year them maybe 4-6 times a year?
I have another concern that maybe those with birth children that are a little older can weigh in on. When a child gets older, how much choice do they have in the pictures that go to their birth mom? I would like to leave that as something that we play be ear till later, when Tyler can help make those choices and be involved in the correspondance with his birthmom...is that reasonable?
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LOL - If only I had read your sig line a little closer!! I tend to just jump to the dates!! In our situation, Birthmom gets hard copies of pics when they are exceptional but the day to day pictures have really helped. Esp since they change so much right now!
Tough w/o Internet tho...
[FONT="Century Gothic"]Discuss this with her. Ask her if you can set up a schedule to send her pictures. Our agreement is every other month. This way I know when to expect them and make sure I get to the mail box.
As for birthday, do what you do for any other family member who lives away from you. If you wish to send something to her do so. You don't have to do so every year. A card and when Tyler gets older a drawing, him signing the card, etc. These will be priceless.[/FONT]