Abby collects family the way most people collect refrigerator magnets. Don’t get me wrong. She knows Grandma Jane and Grandma Judy and loves them both dearly.
And yet, after 15 minutes in her presence, she took to calling Brian’s step-Grandma (who she had never even heard of before) “Grandma Doris”. And wanted to hang out with grandma Doris and see what grandma Doris has in her house and swim to the side of the pool so she could see Grandma Doris. She’s the same way with aunts and uncles. Shes’ more than happy to bring friends into the family and designate the Uncle So and So or Auntie Such and Such.
It’s great that she feels so loved and affirmed that she can trust just about any adult once Mommy or Daddy introduces her. I guess we did a good job helping her form strong attachments when she was a baby. And frankly, I love the idea that Abby feels free to choose her family, since in a way, that’s how she came to be in this family in the first place.
here come the tears!