How I got here and where I’m going…

There is no short and sweet answer to that, but halfway through my first year of law school it seems appropriate to update my intro page. I am a single mother to three children. I also have a fourth child, an adopted son who is now in the custody of the state after I voluntarily relinquished my rights to him. Voluntary is a relative term. This child who I love very much is my motivation for attempting to change the system that failed him and that continues to fail thousands of children across this country.  Along the way, terrible things happened that are totally unrelated to foster care and adoption and have more to do with death, trauma, loss, and post-traumatic stress. I have survived, my children have survived, but my marriage didn’t and my ex-husband will never recover from the tragedy that struck his side of the family. (Note – I was very happily married for over 15 years and feel this loss quite profoundly) So here I am. A single mom with what is the equivalent of a “second life”. In my efforts to achieve my mission here, I have enrolled in law school, and was blessed to receive a full scholarship to my school of choice. I work for myself, as I have for years, providing rehabilitation services to people recovering from brain injuries. This 20 hour per week work limit is financially draining, but I can not fathom working any more than that while going to school full time. I have a man-friend who has been my companion now for almost three years. While it is a totally different relationship than the one I had with my husband, I feel blessed to have him in my life and love him more with every passing day.  So…I am a full-time student and a working single mother who still wants to have and enjoy relationships with others while attempting to have significant impact upon a major social problem.  Enough said. Wish me luck.