Saying goodbye to the little boy we hosted in December was harder than we expected. Hosting was a little harder than we expected. For days after he left, Mark and I just kept talking about him, processing the experience, rehashing again what it was like to watch our kids serve him so well, imagining together how changed he will be when his new family brings him home for good, resting after hovering over a toddler again. As we were still debriefing, our kids were debriefing in their own way. They didn’t rest really at all; they started talking about doing it again.
“When we host another kid, let’s make sure we….”
“Next time we host, can we…?”
They were in their own process. Maybe they’d let it go. Maybe “normal life” would move forward—homework, school plays, birthdays, softball—and they’d move forward and let it go. But, they didn’t so much. Instead of forgetting about the idea, they actually widened their idea, opening themselves up to hosting a child who might be a little harder in their view.
And, now, here I am, a pile of papers in front of me with a list of things I haven’t collected in a while—marriage certificate, health forms, background checks, clearances. All with this little face in mind.
He’s 8 years old. His favorite color is yellow. He likes to play games. And, his favorite animal is a kitty cat. And, apparently, that was all we needed to know to invite this guy to join us at the pool, play with us at the park, build Lego creations, ride bikes around our driveway, and sleep in the bottom bunk for a month. All that’s way more important than language anyway, right? (Did I mention he doesn’t speak English? Our iPhone translation apps are about to get a serious workout.)
M.Y. has two best friends. The three of them are adorable together. Seriously.
Both of his buddies are available to host too. And, as of this morning, no one has said yes to them and invited them for Legos and bike riding. And, we’ve only got one bottom bunk. Do you have one?
Email Sarah at Madison Adoption Associates if you live in PA or MD and feel the nudge to learn more about hosting one of these little men. Madison is so interested in getting the three of them hosted that they are offering a significant grant to families who commit this week.
We’d love to do this with others. It’s best for the boys—and for us so that we can be reminded that we aren’t crazy…or that crazy…something along those lines at least.