Within an hour of meeting our future children, we’re put to the test! We go out as a group to lunch. Though our social worker and foster mom are with us, clearly we’re the “Parents on Duty!”

My youngest son, continues to shadow my oldest son and sits by him at lunch. It’s a buffet, so we fix plates for the kids, and my daughter parks herself beside me, as advertised! The staff at the restaurant soon learns what’s going on, and all three kids get lollipops and yo-yos. So, we begin the very normal, “How Many More Bites Til I Get My Stuff” game that we take for granted as non-adoptive parents!

My daughter is proud of all her counted bites. She asks my oldest son to teach her how to count to 100 later tonight at the house. He’s clearly pleased to be called on in this way.

After lunch and all the treats are disbursed, we begin the journey of parenting sans help from the social worker and foster mom. We’re advised that we probably don’t want to go to the local superstore with all three kids, but we do it anyway, because we’re crazy people!

It turns out to be a great experience! We look and act like any other typical family, and it affirms we’re bonding well. The kids have no trouble responding to our authority, and don’t really appear to miss their foster mom as much as we thought might be the issue.

My uncle has traveled five hours to see me, and arrives late afternoon. Feeling cocky from lunch and our afternoon shopping expedition, we decide to go out to dinner with him, along with my aunt and cousin.

Trying to catch up on the twenty years since I’ve last seen them, and still new to this “parenting three kids” thing is a bit of a juggle, but we manage it! As I accompany my daughter to the bathroom, she says to me, “You’re my mom for this week!” and decides on the spot to call us Mom and Daddy. I’m floored! And, of course, very happy!

Homeward now for bed and bathtime …