Extended Family

When you live away from your natural family, you tend to create friendships with others that are like your own family. I am lucky enough to have many people I would consider family that I am not actually related to. One of them is Emily's teacher from her time spent in the two year old room. Her name is Jen. Jen was expecting a baby at the same time that Emily was in her room. Emily grew extremely close to Jen in those months leading up to the birth of Jen's son, Pierce. Emily and Jen were inseparable and had inside secrets, including knowing the name of Jen's baby even though nobody else did, and an amazing relationship. I think Emily spent 90% of her days attached to Jen in one form or another. When Emily came out of the hospital in April 2009 she was a little messed up and Jen had taken a fall outside of work and broken her ankle. Jen was gone from work and Emily was lost without her. Even though Jen was gone for a little while Emily did OK, but when Jen returned to work it was hard for Emily to not have her Jen the way she was used to having her. Jen was confined to a chair most of the time, or sitting on the floor. If Jen was on the floor Emily was in Jen's lap; she even peed on Jen one day requiring her to hobble home to change her clothes. Jen never minded though because she loved Emily. Emily loved Jen and when Jen went on maternity leave Emily had another transition to make. She was lost again and in transition to move to the older 2 year old classroom. She transitioned fine and found comfort in her new teachers but we all knew it wasn't Jen. She missed Jen! Fast forward almost two years later and Emily and Jen still have that special connection, kind of like an auntie. But there is more to it than Emily and Jen. Jen's son, Pierce, and Emily have this weird and amazing connection. Emily absolutely adores Pierce and he follows her around. Emily asks about him frequently if he isn't at school in the morning with her, and if you knew Emily you would know she really has no time for little kids; she doesn't like them or babies. She doesn't mind him touching her stuff, she willingly gave him one of her dolls to keep at his house, and she calls him her little brother. It is almost as if they are siblings when they are together. Jen and I think they share some kind of special bond from when Emily was attached to Jen during her pregnancy. I love the idea of them knowing each other as they grow up. I love the idea of having Jen and Pierce as our extended family!