Month: January 2019
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What if?
It’s hard to believe that a year ago already, we were pondering, and deciding in earnest, to go for the second adoption. Then we found out about Jackie’s sister. Here is how our faith is being tested though. We don’t know the timeline, we have no power over moving things faster. I visited the adoption…
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Who is this book for?
This newly published book has been very well received, with enthusiasm and anticipation. At first look, as well as after poring over it, readers say it is beautiful. It’s educational, as well as emotional and eye opening. I personally still take it as a reminder and encouragement for better parenting, as well as a therapeutic…
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First 100
Prima sută de cărți a pornit spre voi, în toată lumea, sau e deja în mâinle vastre. M-aș bucura să aud de la voi, ce v-a plăcut, ce v-a mișcat, ce v-a provocat. Puteți comenta mai jos, sau îmi puteți trimite un mesaj personal la contact@violetaaltmann.com Pentru comenzi, scrieți-mi un mesaj personal cu adresa de…
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Eye contact
I am reading about the early stage of development in children, and about what gives them a sense of security and helps them anchor with stability in this world. It is eye contact. Babies being mesmerizing and cute is an adaptation for survival. It draws our eyes to them. To look at them. And that…
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Hair
For the last few weeks we’ve had one quarrel with Jackie. Hair. And her stubbornness to not keep it out of her face. After a lovely bob she got last year around this time, her bangs grew thickly all the way bellow her jaw. We’ve been pondering a new style, a fresh haircut, while keeping…
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Draw a circle
There is an exercise one can do with little kids, as young as Jackie, 5 years of age. I read about it in the “Twenty things…” adoption book. The social worker hosting our post adoption group also mentioned it. On a piece of paper have your child draw a person. Then have them draw a…
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Adoption decision journey
Is infertility a punishment? I never saw it that way. Maybe because of the way I relate to God. The way I see Him is through the lens of forgiveness and immeasurable love. I have lived my youth bravely and honestly, and pure to the best of my ability. But as far as sin goes,…
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Despre depresie
Un subiect de altfel tabu. Tristețe, descurajare și neajutorare. Iritabilitate sau panică. Perspectiva mea de iarnă, în tandem cu tratarea subiectului azi la întalnirea mamelor de preșcolari. Cu toții simțim și emoții așa numite negative. De altfel, un om sănătos are un spectru larg de sentimente. Diferența o face acceptarea și gestionarea lor. Cu atât…
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What makes you come alive?
I was the quiet kid. I didn’t practice my storytelling. I didn’t yearn or learn to be the center of attention. Drawing attention to myself, from teachers or from peers, came with negative side-effects, causing unfounded envy or pressure. There is beauty in discretion and obscurity. Anonymity has always been a sweet friend. Having arrived…
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Generalizations
In general it’s not helpful to generalize. Pun intended. I misspoke today. I generalized. And as the words left my mouth, I knew it, saw it like a slow motion train wreck, but couldn’t redress. There are a slew of proverbs related to loose lips. He who talks lot, it’s impossible to not make mistakes.…
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Post-adoption celebration
It’s mid January. After three weeks of freezing temperatures, today got warmer and it rained. Today we started kindergarten too, after three weeks of vacation. We’ve been preparing our hearts for quite some time to have this adoption reunion in the complete formula. We celebrate family. In a word of “different”, it is incomparable to…
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She takes after you
We savor the journey of discovering Jackie as the unique person she is. Often she has certain tendencies, different from us, true sparks of genius, and we joke about who she takes after. Isn’t adoption adventurous?! We see us in her, at different times, and we marvel. She only emulates our habits, our facial expressions,…