Memories

The other morning, I was warned that our air conditioning was broken at work, so I dressed accordingly – a sleeveless shirt that I haven’t worn since being in Haiti.

 

I came into the kitchen to make G’s breakfast.  He greeted me with a BIG smile and came to hug me.

 

“I love your shirt.”

 

"Why?”

 

“Because you used to wear this shirt in Haiti.”

I Rock You

Putting G to bed,

finished reading books,

time to lie him down,

but he looks at me and says, "I rock you, Mama.  I rock you."


So we rocked.

Confident Expectation

When G wakes up, I rock him in our rocking chair.  The other day we were rocking, when he wiggled down and trotted off across the room.  I figured he was going to get The Comfort Object.  But instead he grabbed this:

(picture of a train on tracks, made at day care)

He turned around with it, and caught my eye - BEAMING with pride.  Everything about G indicated his confident expectation that I was going to love what he had made.


That blows me away.


Some day I'll write about my perspective on adoption.  You might be surprised to know that I don't think it's the greatest thing in the world.  But I will say this...


Every child deserves to know that someone will absolutely revel in their artistry.  Every child deserves to have that confident expectation... the knowledge that, for their parent(s), they are positively amazing.

G is realizing that he has that now.  Ah-yah-yee-ah!

Attachment Strategy

One of the attachment strategies I read about was encouraging a Comfort Object for your child.

Before I went down to Haiti the first time, I got 3 identical little blue bears.  The plan was for me to introduce the bear to G, for him to love it all week, for him to take the bear back to the orphanage to provide comfort until it was lost, and then for me to bring another bear when I went back to pick him up - thus jogging his wonderful memories and making him feel happy & secure.

Only, G hated the bear.  He delighted in throwing it as far away from him as possible.

I tried the same concept before he transitioned to preschool - using a blanket - a lovely blanket that would provide him extra security & comfort as he learned to sleep at school.

Absolutely no interest in the blanket.

Now, I happen to have this shirt:

It's a nasty old painting shirt, but one that I've been wearing often since G came home.  It's the kind of shirt that you wouldn't be sad if your toddler made a mess of - the perfect shirt for wearing around G.

Only, I can't wear it any more, because this has become the beloved Comfort Object. 

Mercy.

Just News

All is well.

Thursday we spent the morning at preschool and the evening at college. 

Friday - back to college.  Wheaton put on a GOOD show.  Seriously, there is something special about that school... energy, vibrancy, polish & friendliness.  G only had one meltdown.  Fortunately it was during chapel, and I'd gotten him downstairs, so it was largely unnoticed - except for the ?Filipino? cleaning woman who tsk'ed loudly and informed us several times that G shouldn't be doing that.  Thanks for the tip.

Weekend - nonstop running around.

I had to wash THREE batches of dishes before all were again clean.  Yeah, it was bad.

And the big news....  G started day care today.  It seemed to go well!  Just one hour, but I didn't see any tears (and didn't ask if there were any while I was gone).  I still love his fab teacher.  G has been very demanding / clingy / disobedient tonight - maybe reminding me that his adjustment is still "in progress."  We'll see.

He has a longer stint at day care tomorrow.. plus another vaccination.  Our first IEP meeting is Wednesday (prayer request).  In general, this will be a busy week.

Worth a smile: my favorite new G word is "weh-we" ("ready").  It's spoken as a question, and usually means that he's about to hurtle something for me to catch.  It's helping my reflexes.

The bottoms of all my t-shirts are stretched out from being pulled on all day long.  Annoying.  And my face keeps breaking out, which I'm sure is from G's hair cream rubbing on it all day long.  Also annoying.  How long did I wait & dream of the day when I'd be pulled & loved on?  And now I get annoyed?

The recipe book from Diane is working!  G downed a full serving of carrots today.. disguised in his mac n cheese.  ah ha ha ha!

Three bits of Joseph news...

1. I got a mid-term report this weekend, showing that he's FAILING History (his possible college major) (provided that he gets accepted to college).

2.  He got his ACT score today.  It's good!

3.  The History teacher sent an apology for the incorrect report of failure.  Good thing I took the original news so calmly.  ahem

My view

Although it's rare that I'm not holding G - if I'm not, this is surely my view when I look down.