Category: Parenting
-
Ethnicity
Today in civics class, the teacher invited my older daughter to tell her story. Only if she wants to. Adoption is not a secret at home, in the neighborhood, in the church or at school. The natural way we treat this part of our story was passed on as such. It is neither good nor…
-
Critical
Did you have those voices around you, growing up, that were more critical than encouraging? Kids are born inept. They know nothing, are clumsy, needy, and frankly even when they make progress, it is slow. Thant being said, they hunger for encouragement and faith. They need adults to believe in them, especially when they don’t…
-
Piercing question
Frazzled, back aching, socks wet, I attempt to dry the second kid after their evening bath. Determinedly silent, eyes on the finish line, I do my best. J breaks the silence with one of her raw questions: “on a scale from 1 to 10, how much do you like being a mom?” I never lie.…
-
Smoking in the airport
In line to board the plane. A young woman starts smoking an e-cigarette. First impulse is to move away to not smell it. There isn’t much room to move. So Conrad asks her to stop smoking. She replies childishly: no. Conrad’s got dad reaction kicked in. He yanked the e-cigarette out of her hand and…
-
About having a voice
From invisible and underestimated Stepping into the light Being visible burdened with expectations I learn to live With purpose Quiet and clear Humble and bold. I grew up singing Traian dorz poems My theological foundation Music has the power to activate parts of the brain that nothing else could My crossroads prayers had words borrowed…
-
The purpose of traveling
If you leave home to go spend money, to feel rich, then more power to you. I have never traveled without a tight budget limit. It’s in my blood to pinch pennies even when we have money in the bank account. We buy our airline tickets then we find a hotel in easy distance with…
-
A good relationship
I always remember how smooth my adolescence was. My brother was gone to college, and I had my groove. The happiest years of my life. School stressed me big time bit one I figured out the system and the teachers, I studied hard by it didn’t occupy my entire mind all the time. I had…
-
Dialog despre Adopție
“Un gând care nu-mi dă pace” fraza cu care ne-au abordat mai mulți prieteni dornici sa afle mai multe despre ce înseamnă sa adopți un copil. Așadar îi invitam la o Conversație pe toți cei pe care gândul adopției nu le da pace. La un dialog. Sa confruntam realitatea. Sa aflam despre procedura, despre asumarea…
-
Mudslide
It felt like a whirlwind, a mudslide of noise, opinions, decisions. Spending money is the sauce for extra stress. And this month I had to pay our property taxes, rent income tax, health insurance, and there are a few trips coming up. We bought equipment for hiking in Austria, and my biggest burden this fall,…
-
Two kids 3 years apart
I helped ivy wash her hair. The tin in the house is smaller than it was at the apartment. They could fit together in it still, when we moved in 2021. Now they can’t. They Barely fit alone. I drained the water and then it was Jackie turn. She called me to help her rinse…
-
Back home
Something reset in me in the hospital. I hate the fact that I’m so predictable and dramatic medical events manage to get me out of myself. I had to stop being admired in the hospital with my daughter. The law not only allows but encourages parents to be admitted in the hospital and stay with…
-
About hospitals
We had to wait one more night before we can go home. This establishment accepts guests with a minimum 3 night stay. 🤪 A few more tests. Future-proofing the respiratory adventure. Needless to say we were disappointed. But we reset our mind. We imagined we’re on vacation. Jackie was only occasionally nervous about the needles, the…