Adopting Siblings, Sibling Group Adoption Blog

01/09/08

First Impressions

Posted by : Julia Fuller in Adopting a Sibling Blog at 07:28 pm , 385 words, 314 views
Categories: Friendships

Whew, am I glad that the children behaved at dinner last night. There was a mother at the restaurant sitting at a table across from us with a little boy. Just the two of them were eating dinner together. I looked over at them several times because Super Dad thought he recognized the boy from one of our children’s previous hockey or soccer teams. Ty plays hockey twice a year, one organization in October and November, and city in January and February. I did not recognize the boy, but Super Dad was quite sure so I kept looking. Tonight, was Ty’s first practice for his city hockey team and as usual, I am one of the team coaches. I was sitting near the entrance, of the place where we play hockey with the other coach, waiting for all of the team members to show up for practice.

Then who should walk in and be assigned to our team? If you guessed the mother and boy from the restaurant last night then you are correct. Ty recognized him immediately, pointed him out, and stated that they were at the restaurant. The mother saw the exchange so I mentioned seeing her at the restaurant. I laughed when she said, “I remember you from the restaurant you were there with about a hundred kids.”

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Eight or a hundred, I guess it seems like the same thing to a person with one child. I avoided saying anything negative about the restaurant. Faith would be proud of me because I also avoided saying anything about foster care or adoption. There was a time when I would use a statement like that as an opening to try to recruit someone into foster care. However, after reading Faith’s series on privacy in adoption over at the adoptive parenting blog, I am trying harder not to bring it up.

This mom had a positive attitude towards Ty and towards me as the coach, because the children had all acted civilized at dinner. We had a good practice tonight and we have one next Wednesday, then we will be starting the games. Ty is our seventh child to play hockey and I expect we may have two more coming up.

Kids Eat Free Except For the Extras

Photo Credit Julia Fuller 2008

2 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: John [Member]

Hockey is a great sport for kids who have been in the system. It has lots of action, and even plans for some misconduct (the penalty box), also, you don't score if you don't play as a team. My oldest came home after spending 15 months in foster care in Canada, and announced that he only wanted to play ice hockey, we live in SoCal. I found out there were rinks near by, and three weeks after coming home, he played his first game. He later became a goalie, loved it, but did major damage to the budget, you can't belive how much goalie gear costs. It was a wondreful match. Son number two did the same. John

Permalink 01/09/08 @ 21:20

Comment from: condo-mom [Member]

What a nice experience. Maybe sometime while you are busy coaching, this mom can go have a casual chat with your retired neighbor's friend. You know, the one who wondered how "terrible" it was living near your family. (I think eating at the next table is like living next door for an hour.) -- Rachel :)

Permalink 01/10/08 @ 11:20

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