Suddenly Parenting an Older "Child"

We have known for three years that we would eventually be taking Sharon in upon the passing of my mother-in-law. But I guess you just never are really prepared - or at least you expect that it will happen "sometime in the future."

Our family changed in one week's time this past October. One day my mother-in-law was healthy and living independently while caring for my sister-in-law, Sharon and the next she is in the hospital and a week later she had passed.

My husband rushed to California in hopes of arriving before his mom's passing - which he thankfully did (and don't get me started on the cost of last minute plane tickets - even with bereavement discounts!). But by the end of the week he was coming back home with his sister.

Sharon is in her mid 40s and has lived with their mom since she was born. I know, weird to phrase it that way, but the truth of the matter is that they were fostered. My mother in law had been fostering and had just finished raising four healthy young men when she had the chance to raise her only girl, Sharon. Sharon's birth mom apparently was an alcohol abuser - and we aren't sure what else. As a result, Sharon has been classified with special needs since, I believe, about the age of three.

Sharon is a great woman. Very kind and sweet. Concerned, caring and religious. Sharon is anywhere between a 6 and a 12 year old for many things and definitely an adult when she wants to be (yes, I will get into that realization another day).

We have a two bedroom home and a five year old daughter. Sharon, who has been sheltered and the princess since day one, will now share a room with our daughter and will have rules to follow (she hasn't really had rules for quite some time), will have to live within our budget (this will be a rude awakening) and will be experiencing her first midwest winter just as it is beginning.

Welcome to our journey.