MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS

When your kids are young you expect to hear " mommy I love you" and have them excited to see you. During the teen years, these occurrences may be rarer and fewer.

Yesterday I was talking to colleagues about my daughter. It took her a long time to realize her career path. After trying a bunch of creative endeavors, she has found her passion, which she is really good at. My older daughter also found her passion and is excelling in her career.

So while being a proud mama is pretty easy these days, yesterday was special.

My younger daughter (age 23) sent the following text: "Kk xoxo love you too best mommy in the world."

My older daughter (age 26) posted on Facebook: "Thursday!!  <3 can't wait!!"  (I will be seeing her Thursday after a few months hiatus. She has moved 2 hours away.)

I'm still their mom, but we have also become friends. Guess it's a family tradition. My mom is one of my best friends. We must be doing something right.

Don't get me wrong - we all have our moments - disagree, end phone calls unhappily or miss a day without talking. But we are a strong group of women (some by blood - some by adoption) and love one another fiercely.

Kathy Ann Brodsky, LCSW is a social worker, adoptive mom and advocate for ethical adoption practice. She has prepared thousands of adoption homestudies, counseled adoptive parents and parents-to-be, and has trained professionals to work with adoptive families. She was named an “Angel in Adoption” by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption in 2001 and has a private practice in New York City. She is also Director of the Ametz Adoption Program of JCCA. She can be reached at theadoptionmaven@gmail.com