Bringing home two teenagers (as they were both 13 when we brought them home)
made for some additional challenges. That was 12-13 years of their first lives
that we hadn't had them for, and getting started in school at that age was also
 quite challenging; both for them, and for us.

These two beautiful ladies are now both 24 years old; the older having moved
out of the house at 18, and having a baby of her own, which she lost not 2
weeks after he was born. She tried again a year later and had another baby boy,
 my second grandchild, who just celebrated his 2nd birthday. (My stepson's wife
 had a baby girl, my first grandchild, who is 4 now). The younger Colombian
Princess stayed home until only about 6 months ago, moving into an apartment
with her boyfriend in the same building that my apartment is located in; hey
neighbor! Both girls are doing great in life, living the way they want to, and
very much close to their cultural heritage, whereas my younger two gave up on
their Russian about a month after coming here, and they never looked back.

Well, as you can see, I'm a talker, so hopefully this can stir up other dad's
to join in and share their stories. I was a teacher for close to 30 years, and
I've met all sorts of parents, with all sorts of titles (Dr., Hon, Rev,
Professor, etc.) but I told them all, their title of DAD beat them all!

Thanks for reading, Dave Weeks (Tonawanda, NY, USA)
--- CNet/5