Philly Area mom, Life forever changed by adoption
Mark is judging singing competitions in Baoding, China.
Unfortunately, the audience popular vote held way more weight than the American judges’ votes because these girls rocked it and ended up losing to some other girls who were in 7th place before their friends had a say.
It’s the nightmare before Christmas. She came home from school missing something—part of her hair.
My gasp first brought denial.
What do you mean what happened to my hair? Ummm…nothing?
But, it couldn’t be denied. After years growing out those bangs from her last hair-cutting mishap, she has bangs again.
Eventually, her denials led to tears and a confession. She was at the table and there were scissors in an oval basket and she did three cuts. Yes, there was hair all over the floor. No, no one noticed.
Lydia, what were you thinking?!?!
I’m going to be in trouble.
Yup, good call. Too bad she thought that and proceeded with her three cuts.
My gut reaction was no screen time the next day because…well…that seems to always be my gut reaction. But, after sitting back a bit and letting the beautiful sounds of an elementary winter band concert jar my parenting wisdom into action, I decided that natural consequences may be more appropriate.
Good morning – just wanted to ask for some help from you guys. Since Lydia cut her own hair in class yesterday, we are no longer allowing her to use scissors without direct adult supervision until we can trust her again to use them in the right way. Can you please make sure this happens in class as well? I’m fairly certain she won’t do it again, but this is the natural consequence I thought was appropriate (that and having to wear a hair clip everyday while we grow out her bangs…again).
Kelly
Yes, I actually pulled out my iPhone and took this picture to send to her father who is in China right now to answer his question, “How are things going?”
There I sat in a pleather seated chair in the perinatal testing center waiting room. It was nearly 9 years when I last did this. I can remember it so clearly and yet the reality of those 9 years is not lost on me. It’s been a long time. Our family is so different than it was then; I’m so different than I was then. The fact that I found myself even sitting there with a pile of coats in my lap waiting for a Chinese last name that no one can pronounce correctly to be called is evidence of that.
When we were called back, I sat behind her and witnessed her marveling at her first sight of her child. She had an ultrasound in China before but was never allowed to see the baby; only the doctor could look at the child and I doubt there was a lot of marveling going on.
They told me no pictures; it’s the hospital rules. And, they even put a friendly sign up there by the main attraction as a reminder. But, seriously, there was a father in China who had stayed up late so not to miss this. So, I may have snuck a picture or two and texted them to him real time.
Yeah, a lot has changed in 9 years, but I still can’t see much in these pictures. But, it didn’t matter; we admired this precious child as if those moving black and white fuzzy images were clear as day.
And, then we went down to the hospital lobby and got her husband on FaceTime. I held my iPhone up so he could watch as she opened up an envelope with a paper that said this.
At the same time, on opposite sides of the world, they laughed and smiled and teared up…together.
It’s a girl, friends. They are having a baby girl!
I know they can’t take a whole with them back to China…but I so wanna go buy some pink things!
All in Mandarin, translated to me afterwards by Helen in between giggles…
Caleb: I want to write a letter to Evan, Ashlyn, Drew, and Lydia and mail them to their schools for them to get when they are at school.
Helen: What would you say to them?
Caleb: I would write to Drew and say, “Dear Drew, I love you. I love to play with you. When you are in school, I stay home and wait for you. Love, Caleb.”
Helen: Oh, that’s nice. What would you say to Evan?
Caleb: I would say, “Dear Evan, I love you. I love to play with you. But, I love to play with Ashlyn more.”