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Decisions, Decisions
Which Parenting Path Is Right for You?
By Shel Franco
Solitary PathArtist Jess Palomine married a musician, and his life on the road never made for a time conducive to making and raising a baby. Eventually, Palomine and her husband separated. "He left, taking with him my hopes for a 'normal' family," she says. "Then I realized I had never been normal in my entire life. Whose mold was I trying to squeeze into? Not mine. It took me almost 40 years to figure that out."
Palomine thought about adopting a child from a foreign country, but she never felt "passionate enough" to follow through. "I figured that was just another remnant from my Norman Rockwell upbringing," she says. "I am a mom to my art, to my students, to my dogs and all the little birds that flock to my feeders."
20/20 Hindsight: "I would have loved a child with an intensity from deep within my soul, but I have to believe that life needed other things from me," Palomine says. "I'm not lonely. I'm full. I'm content. I feel blessed to be involved with myself so intimately."
Palomine admits she needs to get a "baby fix" on occasion. "I have a brother and a sister who have kids, and these kids are starting to have kids, so I always know where to go to smell that glorious baby smell."
Like Dunn, do you jump into it – head first? Or do you take your time like Beckett – see what life brings? Only you can decide what's right for you. Just remember, whatever your future holds, there's bound to be joy and there's bound to be heartache. Try not to expect too much of either one.Want to see more?
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