Uxbridge Information & Events

My Brother Is My Brother-In-Law

 

What a strange statement you might say, but not really I would reply. You see my "brother" is my "brother-in-law".

 

A Little history

I grew up in a middle class family of five boys, Mom was a stay at home mom and Dad worked full time for the same company for most of his life. We were a one car family with no TV until I was in my teens.

We spent most Sunday afternoons and evenings at my grandmothers where we enjoyed a great meal and watched Leave it to Beaver, Ponderosa, and the Lawrence Welk Show on her TV. Christmas dinner was a family affair with all of moms siblings and their families.

We all, even Dad, were involved in the local Air Cadets or Navy League after Cubs and Scouts.

We spent our summers at a cottage we built mostly out of an old building we had helped dad demolish in his spare time. Life was good.

 

Foster Parents

Mom and Dad decided we had room to share in our hearts and our tiny 900sq ft bungalow for those less fortunate than us and that we would become a foster home. At first mom would only take new born's or infants that were in need of short term care as she was concerned we would all become too attached to a baby that was with us for any length of time.

Over time some of these children started to stay for longer periods of time and some were a little older. One of these older children stayed with us for quit some time and became an integral part of our family. He became as much my brother as my brothers were.

Somtimes life throws us a curve ball

One day my Dad collapsed at work and ended up spending months in and out of hospital. With our sole source of income gone and with the time mom was away from the house visiting dad a very difficult decision was reached and our young foster brother was moved to a new home. (We were told he was being adopted).

 

Life after our home

Although we did not know it at the time, adopted is not where he would end up. He was moved several times over the next few years and one summer he was sent to a little cottage just north of Stouffville for the summer. A cottage that was filled to overflowing with foster children every summer a home that was like summer camp for many of these children who would never get out of the city otherwise.

It was here that he came back into my life. The group of kids there this particular summer were looking through a family album when this young boy exclaimed that's my brother after looking at a picture with me in it while I was on my honey moon

By chance or by some master plan he was back in my life. The cottage he was spending the summer in,  the foster home he would end up spending the rest of his youth in and where he would become an integreal part of the family, was the home of my mother-in-law.

Today - 45 years later

He and his wife are still very much a part of our family
just as my brothers and their families
or my wife's brothers and sister and their families

So you You see my "brother" really is my "brother-in-law".

 

To learn more about becoming a foster parent visit Homes For Kids

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