Ok, my lovely friends, now that I'm feeling more grounded, I have to ask...

I do kind of want to post this on facebook though I think I will edit quite a bit. Take out a lot of the crying at least. :) I'd like some constructive criticism. It seems rambling and jumbled to me, but has a strong point, and I'd like to refine it. Even if I decide not to post it, I like it as a piece on its own.

Wow, I love you all!!!

Having just recently walked my daughter down the aisle, I can say that what you went through today is one of many twists and turns of parenting that you will likely experience for the rest of you life, Jen. It's what makes life worth living.

And congrats to the new mom, and Aunt!!

I say if you post it on FB, don't touch a thing. I love the honesty and emotion of your writing.

I'm with Kevy on this one. What you wrote is exactly they way you felt at that moment. If you are not journaling, perhaps you should. What you write is as important as the way you write it. But I understand if you want to edit it before posting on FB because it's seen by the whole world.

yup.

If you're going to post it leave it alone. If you are worried about how some people may interpret or react to it make it filtered. It's perfect how it is.

Good work, brave Mom! Congrats on the birth of your niece.

Play around with the idea that you could have three separate FB posts. Paragraphs 1 -4 are one post. Paragraph 8 and 9 are another. 5, 6, 7, and 10 are another. What do you think?

I appreciate that you guys don't want me to edit my feelings. It isn't a matter of censoring myself but a matter of presenting thoughts in a coherent manner. Thanks for the starting point! :)

I'd also suggest breaking up some of the larger paragraphs. Fb scruntches things and can make a large paragraph seem like an intimidating block of text, which many people will just avoid reading.

Call me old fashioned, but I don't understand editing something just to post it on Facebook--though much on Facebook certainly merits editing, deletion even. One edits things like this to submit somewhere that has an Editor with a capital E who might say, "Yes, this is good. Here's $25.00." You might consider shaping this to send to a parenting magazine, to Newsweek for a "My Turn," etc.