Children

I cannot begin to describe how much I love my children.

I cannot lie, my love first and foremost is for my own biological children. But not too far behind are my other children, the children of my heart that I have met along the way.

And I believe, that for the bio-children, and the alterna-children, love-- my love, and the love shared between Ken and me, and our family love-- that love has made a difference.

But I know there are no guarantees.

My daughter is grieving with her best friend. His sister died, probably alcohol poisoning. The beautiful young girl who died was featured in a video made in her memory, picture after picture of a smiling, beautiful girl and young woman, surrounded by loving friends and family.

It wasn't enough.

And I know that those particular dangers were there- maybe are there-- for my children, too. I know that my children are not immune to the temptations of too much drink, offers of drugs -- or merely being on the roads when someone else has "indulged".

Indulged. What a word. We aren't talking about an extra slice of chocolate cake here.

My heart hurt watching the video.

And I remembered how much I love my children, all of them.