Month: July 2023
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Control
I was not confident in a loud way. I would silently do what I believed is good, without the need for affirmation. Humility pairs well with sustainable courage. And it is disarming to let things slide, let people slide, and not feel the need to be right in the eyes of others. Nothing can buy…
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The last day of the hike
The trails blend in my memory. We’ve had high highs and low lows. Metaphorically and literally. This morning we woke up more rested than I expected. The large shared room had double beds separated by a thin wood board. We even had a window above us that stayed open all night. This style rooms are called…
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3rd day of the hike
We knew it was going to be cold, but not that cold. It snowed the whole day. The world is sizzling hot around the globe and we have snow in July in the Alps. When we packed, it was hard to imagine that we would need such warm clothing. Today we put on all the…
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Hiking hut to hut
After sleeping at the base of the mountain, a bit anxious about the adventure we were about to undertake, wondering about what will be hard, painful, beautiful, what will push us to our limits, wondering if we packed everything we will need… In the morning we walked down the road to the bus stop that was going…
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How are you doing?
A question that most often doesn’t receive a good enough answer. We are too comfortable to get vulnerable. It’s a lot of work. It can be embarrassing. But then again, that is the point. We are all carrying different weights. We are all hurt. We have different but very personal longings. Rest. True rest. Community.…
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A week of service
“I appreciate everything you do for me. I know sometimes it doesn’t seem so, because I am a kid, but know that I see how much you do for us.” Said Jackie at dinner time. We woke up early, I did at least. Jackie slept in and it was good for her. I made some…
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Resourcefulness
I didn’t know I poses a certain creativity when it comes to solving problems. Asking questions was frowned upon when I was a kid. So I learned to find out answers and solutions. I did it out of necessity. But I think I also like it. I loved the success. The independence. I got good…
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Fair competition
When and how should kids learn about equal opportunity and fair games? Early on we lower our standards, and we don’t use our full capacity to win against our kids in games. I let ivy catch up with me when we swim. Only in the pool she blatantly asked me to let her win. I…
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Writing yourself in a book
Now both Conrad and I are published writers. Even if you don’t write yourself in a story, even if you don’t publish an autobiography, writing is vulnerable. For some reason blogging doesn’t feel so dramatically final. Maybe it’s the false impression that I can take it back, shutting down the blog. I am fully aware…
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Întrebări indiscrete
Uneori se repetă, alteori sunt doar invazive, și nu o data, întrebările indiscrete au fost puse de față cu copiii noștri adoptați. “O cunoști pe mama lor biologică? Sunt de etnie? Cum sau de ce au fost abandonați? De unde vin? Cum au ajuns la voi? I-ați ales voi? Ceva in noi se crispează la…
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Dificultăți sau oportunități de conectare
Ce provocări ne așteaptă dincolo de pragul adoptiei? Suntem pregătiți sa le facem față? Sunt întrebări cu care ne frământam noi toți părinții potențial adoptatori. Toți copiii adoptați ajung in familii cu diferite carențe: fizice, emoționale, sociale, spirituale. Chiar si dacă au recuperat deja mult la asistenții maternali. Unii poarta cu ei rănile la suprafața, alții…
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Preparation in just the right amount
In 6th grade I over-prepared for my biology lesson. We had to memorize all the terms by heart. I still remember all the bone names, or what the cells are made of, or the plants, or the digestive system, hearing, brain everything. It was fascinating. I never considered being a doctor but I loved learning…