This is long, but I want to share the story of what we have been through this year, and how wonderfully and blessed we all feel now. In August of 2000, two days before her 19th birthday, I found out my daughter was pregnant. I was devastated. We convinced her to go to her community college for one more semester, then move back home in December, when her semester was over. It was hard, being pregnant and going to school, but she made it through. We rearranged our house to welcome her back. I bought maternity clothes and baby things. She was very very careful to take care of herself throughout her pregnancy. On April 17, I was with her all night and the next day at noon my husband and I welcomed our new granddaughter into the world. I was terrified about my daughter being a mother and trying to build a life for herself and the baby. Later that night, the doctor discovered that the baby had a heart defect and she was medflighted to a medical facility 100 miles from our home. Five days later she had open heart surgery, and my daughter and I stayed at Ronald McDonald house for 10 days while the baby recovered. My daughter pumped her breasts 3 times a day so that she could nurse the baby. She stayed with her most of the day and a lot of the night. She held the baby while the doctor took the chest tubes out of the baby's chest when I had to leave the room. To make a too-long story shorter, the baby is now healthy and wonderful and I couldn't imagine my life without her! My daughter is a marvelous mother, and she never has to ask because her dad and I tell her often how incredible a mother she is. I, on the other hand, cannot remember ever asking my father if I was a good mother, though I love my father dearly and we have a decent relationship. I've definitely had many days when I wondered if I was doing the right things with my children. Parenting is not easy. When we are young, we look up to our parents as being perfect and having all the answers. But when we have children ourselves, it seems like a grand experiment. "Well, try this and if it works, great, if it doesn't, try something else." We can only do the best we can. That is what I tell my daughter. I support her in all her endeavors (she just started back to school). I am just joyous to have this time with my precious grandchild, knowing that one day they will move out and I won't get to have such an active part in their lives. My 2 cents... Rene'

Rene' What a story of courage..and love This is great...and you all paid the price for that beautiful baby... Kinda makes ya feel like alls well that ends well.... Thank you.... not being a mother myself I 'mother' you all and mother vicariously... as an Auntie~ Cher ----- Original Message ----- From: Rene Seigh <naysay@hiwaay.net> To: <DanvilleCrossing-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2002 8:41 PM Subject: RE: Dad...Am I a good Mom ??? This is long, but I want to share the story of what we have been through this year, and how wonderfully and blessed we all feel now. In August of 2000, two days before her 19th birthday, I found out my daughter was pregnant. I was devastated. We convinced her to go to her community college for one more semester, then move back home in December, when her semester was over. It was hard, being pregnant and going to school, but she made it through. We rearranged our house to welcome her back. I bought maternity clothes and baby things. She was very very careful to take care of herself throughout her pregnancy. On April 17, I was with her all night and the next day at noon my husband and I welcomed our new granddaughter into the world. I was terrified about my daughter being a mother and trying to build a life for herself and the baby. Later that night, the doctor discovered that the baby had a heart defect and she was medflighted to a medical facility 100 miles from our home. Five days later she had open heart surgery, and my daughter and I stayed at Ronald McDonald house for 10 days while the baby recovered. My daughter pumped her breasts 3 times a day so that she could nurse the baby. She stayed with her most of the day and a lot of the night. She held the baby while the doctor took the chest tubes out of the baby's chest when I had to leave the room. To make a too-long story shorter, the baby is now healthy and wonderful and I couldn't imagine my life without her! My daughter is a marvelous mother, and she never has to ask because her dad and I tell her often how incredible a mother she is. I, on the other hand, cannot remember ever asking my father if I was a good mother, though I love my father dearly and we have a decent relationship. I've definitely had many days when I wondered if I was doing the right things with my children. Parenting is not easy. When we are young, we look up to our parents as being perfect and having all the answers. But when we have children ourselves, it seems like a grand experiment. "Well, try this and if it works, great, if it doesn't, try something else." We can only do the best we can. That is what I tell my daughter. I support her in all her endeavors (she just started back to school). I am just joyous to have this time with my precious grandchild, knowing that one day they will move out and I won't get to have such an active part in their lives. My 2 cents... Rene' ==== DanvilleCrossing Mailing List ==== GENEALOGY goes on... and on... and on...