Before we adopted Jaclyn I worried about the absence of classic 9-5 work routine, to set an example, just like our parents did for us.
Our work is intertwined with our daily lives, and she often hears us: “Mommy or daddy is working. Give her or him some space.” She always wants to know: “who are you working for?” (And thus learned the names of all our clients) and “Want are you working on?” or “Who is calling?” or “What is daddy delivering in town?” And we give her honest answers which she may not fully comprehend yet, but she ponders them… to our surprise she now knows and understands more than we gave her credit.
We are a living example of everything, words, actions, ethic, attitude. She repeats everything she hears. As if she internalizes the newly acquired words or information. And we know it, because she repeats what other family and friends say. Sometimes when she repeats it, it sounds rude.
Last night, late at night, we started praying. Conrad thought I did it because praying puts him to sleep, so I was trying the same tactic on her. And I am amazed at the things she prays for on her own.
A few days ago at the dinner table she thanked God for the big bed in the loft, which she loves to climb into, and snuggle with us, sometimes half way through the night, and almost always in the morning.
She thanked God for our warm bed, but she thanked Him for the cold beds too. When she falls asleep with us, and at some point us gets too hot, she wakes up and says “that’s it. I’m going down to sleep in my bed” – this after she pleaded to let her sleep with us. I guess her cup got full.
Another (stressful) time, as I started praying for Conrad, because he couldn’t figure out some programming thing, I told her “let’s pray” and started with the poem prayer I had taught her. But she interrupted me to say: “God, please teach daddy what he needs to know to solve the website problem”. I had not yet taught her to pray this way. It moved me to my core hearing her genuine eloquent request.