"Becoming a single adoptive parent was not too difficult. Being a single adoptive parent is another story,' says Susan Chenault of Virginia.

This is what I have learned from my children along the way -

· You cannot plan for parenthood, you learn as you go.
· When you go out for the first time, as a new parent, don't forget to take the baby with you.
· Taking a vacation entails a lot more than just packing a suitcase
· My 8 year old has more patience than I do, but I definitely have more patience than my 2 year old
· When the children are gone overnight, the house is so quiet you can't sleep.
· The question, "Where do babies come from?" comes sooner than the literature suggests
· When my oldest daughter began fantasizing about her birth parents and grieving for them, she needed to be held and have her feelings of loss validated.
· My children need contact with positive male role models on a regular basis
· My children need to spend time with families like ours and a support network is also essential to me.
· People will often assume that you are babysitting or that your child looks like your spouse.
· Holidays are much more fun.
· The world is a tougher, but it's brighter place to be.

Susan adopted two daughters from India. Sarah was born in 1987 and adopted as an infant. Hannah was born in 1994 and adopted as an infant. Susan wrote this in 1995. "Becoming a single adoptive parent was not too difficult. Being a single adoptive parent is another story,' says Susan Chenault of Virginia.

This is what I have learned from my children along the way -

· You cannot plan for parenthood, you learn as you go.
· When you go out for the first time, as a new parent, don't forget to take the baby with you.
· Taking a vacation entails a lot more than just packing a suitcase
· My 8 year old has more patience than I do, but I definitely have more patience than my 2 year old
· When the children are gone overnight, the house is so quiet you can't sleep.
· The question, "Where do babies come from?" comes sooner than the literature suggests
· When my oldest daughter began fantasizing about her birth parents and grieving for them, she needed to be held and have her feelings of loss validated.
· My children need contact with positive male role models on a regular basis
· My children need to spend time with families like ours and a support network is also essential to me.
· People will often assume that you are babysitting or that your child looks like your spouse.
· Holidays are much more fun.
· The world is a tougher, but it's brighter place to be.

Susan adopted two daughters from India. Sarah was born in 1987 and adopted as an infant. Hannah was born in 1994 and adopted as an infant. Susan wrote this in 1995. She adopted through Dillon International, Inc.

Credits: Susan Chenault