Blogging in two arenas, with a 52 year old memory that has been diluted by my 39 children, I’m paranoid about repeating myself and sounding as senile as I sometimes feel. My 33 year old daughter remarked, “Well you get new readers all the time,” which will now become my mantra and my excuse for repeating myself. Often mothers find what they need at the time, and then later I encourage other mothers.

I believe I mentioned my 100 month theory on another post. Today marks that 100th month we’d been looking forward to celebrating. 100 months ago Martin and Tony joined our family, at ages 2 and 4, along with two older very emotionally disturbed siblings. Martin and Tony immediately bonded with CW and Lily, who were then one and three, and it has been a remarkable partnership.

CW and Martin calls themselves Best Brothers, friends and brothers, confidants, pals and each other’s dearest ally on earth. Rarely ever does one hear a cross word between the two of them, 100 months of sharing a room, sharing lives and helping each other.

CW and Lily are birth siblings, CW is good to her as well, but CW is a rough and tumble boy who spends all his time with Martin. Tony, however, with his many issues, including his small stature and developmental delays has become Lily’s Everything. He’s detail oriented to her artistic nature and he keeps her in line. She gives him stability and a concrete sense of who he is. They’re in the same grade, the same class, and it has worked out well for both of them.

Martin tells me he doesn’t remember 101 months ago, his life in the foster care system. He arrived here with no front teeth, the dentist said either they were knocked out or something, resulting in a speech impediment and now he needs braces, but it hasn’t held him back emotionally. He’s been a dream child, a 13 year old son that I deeply love.

Not any one of these four remembers a life without each other, and that’s as it should be. All four have allowed other new children in our family to join the Bubbas and the Bubbettes, as they refer to themselves, all four are loving and supportive of the other children, quite grounded here, secure and strong, and now looking forward to the next 100 months of their lives together.