Becoming Family

Weddings are pretty special in anyone’s books. Our family directly participated in three within four years, which is a lot, and added to it was the inevitable emotional letting go while one more offspring launched into a family of his or her own. However, the palpable loss was compensated for by the great gain we made in adding three endearing young adults to our family. Each one bringing personality, gifts, perspective and experience that continues to broaden and bless us.

I want you to meet them.

Marc is Amanda’s husband and the father of our wee Gabrielle. He is an outdoors man with an incredible memory for facts – our human encyclopedia and more. His cooking skills are second to none and he even cleans up after himself! These are some of his great qualities but I think the thing I appreciate about him most is his love and care for our daughter and granddaughter.

Siobhan is married to our son James. She is every bit his intellectual equal and keeps us all on our toes with her clever come-backs. She is most gentle and kind, loves the domestic side of life and everything she touches: canning, crocheting, yoghurt and perogie-making, turns to yumminess. “Delightful” is the way I most often describe her and I love her like my own daughter.

Andrea is married to our youngest son, Brendan. Last Christmas Marc took the family into the woods for target practice and Andrea represented the female contingent of the clan. Her shooting skills did us proud and are a token indication of her athleticism, her determination and strength as a woman in her own right. She expresses her individuality with femininity and class. Her sweetness, smarts and sense of humour as well as her love for the outdoors and travel are a good match for Brendan. I also love her like my own daughter.

The gradual process of adding family members has been an adjustment as the family dynamic changes and our children shift our intimate conversations to include someone new to us.

Then there is the new title and role as mother-in-law, which sounded too much at first like step-mother and brought to mind images of fairy tales and Disney movies where the only actions of such persons were evil. Someone asked me not long ago if I viewed my daughters-in-law as competition. I honestly have never thought that. From the beginning I celebrated my daughter’s husband and each son’s wife for more than what they brought but for who they are: the essence of joy and love, maturity and companionship, gentleness and beauty.

Along with my own children, these are the people whose names are first on my breath each morning. They are first in my thoughts when the weather turns. They are first in my heart when life gets tough. They are the first item of praise when I count my blessings.

Children-in-law, surely you know, we feel entirely and completely blessed to call you family.