I know how that is Drew. My wife and I got our 2 granddaughters 7 years ago and now they are 11 & 12. Their mother (29 years old) died in Arizona last Thursday of a pulmonary embolism. We told the girls and later when we were alone my wife said she hated to admit it, but she felt a little relief knowing their mother won't be showing up on our doorstep wanting her daughters back someday. I told her I had the same thought. I know that sounds bad, but after 7 years we feel like they are OUR kids! We don't have any worries about their dad coming for them, he lives here in town and hasn't seen them in over 4 years.