This was forward to me by my friend Debra. Sarah Thacker is in Haiti right now. She went down to try to bring their child home - a legally adopted child who had permission from both Haiti and the US to leave. Instead, she found herself detained and her child was taken to a UNICEF camp. She wrote this today:On Friday morning, I flew into PAP on an Agape flight. I was met at the airport by two escorts from the orphanage and six children. I was coming to help escort my son, Reese, age two, and . . .
highs and lows
It's been almost a month since Kembe came home. It's hard to believe . . . it feels like he has been here forever, and yet we still feel like we are in transition mode as a family. I definitely haven't found our "new normal" yet - so far life feels more like a triage situation, where we are just reacting to chaos and crisis as it comes. And it does seem to keep coming. I'm hoping things settle down soon.Our house is finally feeling well. Mostly well, that is. All of us fell sick over the . . .
keeping it real (nobody puts baby in a corner)
I have a love/hate relationship with mom blogs. On many levels, I love it, because it allows me to feel connected to other moms during this season where I am rather isolated at home. I appreciate hearing that I'm not alone, and reading that others are having similar experiences. At the same time, I am also aware that blogging can become a medium for us to present our "best selves": from detailing homemade crafts to posting stunning photos of our kids, a blog can become a show-and-tell for . . .
this.
When Mark and I are "on our game" (which we are not right now), we like to do affirmations with the kids at the dinner table. Generally it involves us going around the table and saying a few things we like about each kid, and a few ways they have made us proud that day. We haven't done this since Kembe came home, and the other night as we were eating it occurred to me that we needed to include him in this tradition. I went around the table, saying the usual things. As we affirmed Jafta, . . .
ruska village
I just saw this special that AlJeezara did on the Ruska Village orphanage in Haiti. It's definitely worth a watch. I think it is some of the most comprehensive and honest coverage I have seen about life post-earthquake, and about how difficult things are for those who live in Port-au-Prince.It was surreal to watch this, because we visited this orphanage the night before the earthquake. I spoke with all three of the women interviewed here. I can tell you that they were very different that . . .
comic relief
Okay, I apologize for yesterday's rant, and for the long list of citations. I guess I'm giving you fair warning. If you make me mad, I WILL come at you with academic literature. Watch your back or I will pop some research on your @$$!I was thinking perhaps I should post something light and fluffy today. I've got nothing. I am tired and lost in a groundhog's day of laundry and swiffering. So I will point you to some things that make me smile:Dooce is always hilarious. But her post about a . . .
Et tu, Anderson Cooper?
Dear Anderson,It's me, Kristen. Your #1 fan. I have loved you for a long time. I still do. When you decided to go back to Haiti to continue to tell their story, I was deeply moved. You are everything I appreciate in a journalist: smart, articulate, compassionate, adventurous, and quick-on-your-feet. One of the things I've always enjoyed about your show is your willingness to present multiple layers of complex issues. But last night. Oh, Andy. You made a misstep that had me considering a . . .
car talk
I need some help. We are still in need of a car that can fit all six of us. Obviously we thought we would have a bit more time to figure this out before Kembe came home from Haiti. We've been getting by with a very generous loaner minivan, but we need to find a permanent solution. The problem is, I am completely overwhelmed with the idea of choosing a car.I am not a car person. I don't know about cars. I don't care about cars. Our strategy thus far has always been to pay cash for older . . .
day in the life
wake up at 5am - try to get Kembe to go back to sleep. doze until 7am, discover both girls have peed through diapers. throw crib bedding in washer. throw India's bedding near washer. feed Karis while snuggling Kembe. get kids dressed.discover we have no breakfast foods. remember valentines are due at preschool.frantically address 24 valentines from Jafta, 18 from India. plop Karis in an exersaucer while Mark drops off kids, take shower.realize it was snack day for India.find snack to have Mark . . .
just enough to be dangerous
My Creole is improving. I know just enough to communicate most of what I need, in cryptic directives. I’ve figured out a pretty decent system, between searching for things on google translations, and reading out full phrases from my handbook for adoptive parents. The problem is, Kembe now thinks that I can fully speak Creole. When he first came home, I was impressed with his understanding of the language barrier, and at his attempts to communicate with me through signals and gestures. Now, . . .
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