Mother of One, Sometimes Two

For the last three years, the arrival of Spring, for us, has meant more than green shoots peeking through the last of the snow and dormant trees suddenly bursting into bloom. The birds constructing nests up under the back patio awning aren't the only creatures returning. At our house, Spring means the return of Miles. It's strange that the timing has worked out this way. Like his departure on Christmas each of the last two years, it was definitely not anyone's plan. Nonetheless, in May of 2008, April of 2009, and late March of this year, Miles came.
For anyone who doesn't know our unique situation, Miles is our nephew, my sister's son. She is a single military mom, and we are honored to be her number one choice for Miles' number two home. It is interesting that something as routine-disrupting as adding a family member has become a Springtime regularity, a routine all its own.
Miles is almost 28 months old, three and a half months younger than my daughter, Penny, and I have dubbed them 'twuzzins', as it is what I imagine having twins would be like. Much of our time as parents to two toddlers is spent rolling with the punches, reacting more than strategizing, so there is little time spent pondering the implications. But occasionally, I wonder how it is forming Miles, and Penny, and my husband and me. On the positive side, will Miles grow to be flexible and resilient because of all the changes and moves? On the darker side, will the kids hesitate to form attachments for fear of losing potential friends the way they repeatedly lose each other.
All in all, I am thankful for this experience. Having Miles has made our life more interesting, and different from the lives of our friends. And as Miles grows into a fine young man, I will be happy to take some of the credit.