If you've adopted a post-institutionalized child who is at least 5 years old, you have faced the dilemna of whether or not your child is ready for school. If your child doesn't yet speak English, you may not be comfortable placing them immediately into school. Sitting in a classroom for 6 or more hours a day when you can't understand a word that is being said can be quite overwhelming.

Some parents don't have a choice in whether or not to keep their child at home a bit longer because they must return to work. Other parents feel... more

Caleb has now been home just shy of 3 months, and although I hear magical tales from other parents of how their child is practically fluent in English by this time, I just don't buy it. At least not for an 11 year old. One mother whose child has only been home one month longer than Caleb even sent a letter to a listserv I am on, bragging about her daughter's English prowess in reading and writing as well. Either this child has an IQ of 150 with previous English experience, or her Mom had done some serious editing.

Oh well...each child in their own due time. Caleb still struggles to express himself in English even though his receptive English skills have really taken off. Today... more

I hope no one is offended by this post as it is meant to discuss religion in a lighthearted manner, and is not mocking or making fun of any religion at all. I just thought my interaction with my son today was a bit humorous.

Caleb has been immersed in our family's religion by jumping in with both feet since the second week he was home. We have scriptures for him in Simplified Chinese, (not that he wants to read them yet), many church videos in Mandarin, children's church music in Mandarin that he loves to sing and simple scripture stories in simplified Chinese that he actually loves to read. We pray as a family both morning and evening as well as at meal times and he loves... more

January 13,2007

When we left Wuhan for the first time with Ben back in October 2000, the tears started flowing and wouldn't stop as we went through security at the airport. All I could think of was that I was taking my son from everything he had ever known.

Seeing how he had no language opportunities in the orphanage being deaf, and obviously had no family, I knew he had a brighter future ahead, but a part of me still felt as if I was wrongfully taking him... more

I wrote here last week about our square-foot gardening endeavor, and wanted to update you on how things are going.

I apologize for being in-absentia for most of last week, but just as the rain that has recently fallen here from the skies over the past few days, we have had some storms brewing in our home as well.

The big, green, jealousy monster has reared its ugly head so bad this week that I wanted to either... more

I have always felt that there is something healing about using your hands to dig in the soil. Whether it is planting a tree, flowers, or a vegetable garden, I love the smell of freshly turned soil, and how the cool dampness feels on my skin. I love watching for seeds to sprout, or waiting to see new buds of leaves on a tree that was dormant all winter.

I figure if gardening is healing for me, it just might be healing for my children as well. If you would like a project for your children to work on together to improve... more

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part 2

When we arrived home, Caleb thought he should immediately be allowed to play computer games. I tried to talk to him about what he was feeling, but he clearly wanted no part of it. I knew he was dealing with some pretty strong emotions bubbling to the surface, so I didn't insist on schoolwork, but did tell him that he needed to play an educational game on the computer rather than a Ninja type game that he loves on a Chinese website. That too merited some pouting and whining, so I asked him to come over to... more

part 1

Why was I so blind that I didn't even think about the possibility that a dance company which focuses on Chinese dance might bring up issues in my son?

Yesterday, when I showed him their webpage and asked him if he wanted to go, he told me "no." I just assumed he was being obstinate at the time and told him that I thought he would enjoy it.

This morning when we got to the student matinee, he was excited at first, but as the first dance number turned into the second I noticed him blinking back tears. How could music with melodies sounding hauntingly familiar not remind him of what once... more

I haven't written for a few days because I have been nursing a tooth that needed a root canal. For me, going to the endodontist rates right up there with chewing cut glass, so I kept secretly hoping the pain of the toothache would instead go away. Finally when I was popping ibuprofen over the weekend like candy, I decided that getting it over with was far better than continuing to nurse the pain of an aching tooth, and headed in to the endodontist's office today on an emergency basis.

Many adopted children have experienced... more

I love Christmas eve. I mean, I really love Christmas eve, far more than Christmas day. It's the anticipation of the beautifully wrapped gifts, the excitement the young ones have of knowing Santa is coming, having a nice Christmas eve dinner surrounded by family, reading the Christmas story out of Luke and enjoying the lights on the tree and a crackling fire in the fireplace. Christmas day to me has always felt rather anti-climactic.

Today is the last day of February and for... more