brought back down to earth...

Do you ever have those parental moments when you are so fully present, so fully enveloped in the wonderful exchange that is taking place between you and your child that you wish it could last forever?  You feel so proud of the moment you want it to go on and on and on.  I just had Mekdes and Margo sitting on my lap and their legs were touching.   We were talking about how their skin color was different, but they were both beautiful and I loved them both with all my heart.  I shared with Mekdes that her skin had been kissed by the African sun and that had given her her beautiful color.  Again, I was floating on my parental high...I was fully in the moment when Mekdes looked at me and asked...

"Why you smell bad?"

Ahh, brought back down to earth with four small words!!!!  The adventure continues...

why, why, why, why, why.....

It has finally dawned on me that Mekdes is exhibiting  typical behavior....for a 2 year old! It makes sense, really, that with all the change that has occurred in her short life, that she hasn't had a chance to develop emotionally and the end result is, I am parenting a 2 year old right now!  It seems so long ago that I was in that stage with our other girls, but the exhaustion of it all is coming back to me full force.  It is like being run over by a very large truck....if you will.  From the moment Mekdes opens her eyes, the questions begin.  "Why you wear a bra?  Why you drink coffee?  Why you drive?  Why you not have big hair?  I'm big.  Can I drive?  Why it rain?"  I could go on and on.  At the start of the day, I actually try to give intelligent and thoughtful answers.  "When the clouds get too full of water, it rains. When you get older you wear a bra.  You have to be 16 years old to drive."  Those answers are still met with..."the follow up why".   "Why clouds full?  Why 16?  You not 16."  By the end of the day, I am so beat down, my brain is so mushy that I find myself playing the God card.  As our dear Aunt Maureen says, "When in doubt, refer to God." Words to live by!  Come 4pm, my answer to "Why your legs tall?" sound something like this..."It is God's way."  What is miraculous about this less than appropriate approach  is that Mekdes stops asking why (at least for 10 minutes).  It must be her confusion about who God is and why I keep referring to him/her that sets her back for this temporary yet greatly needed question reprieve.   I realize you will not find this technique in any parenting or adoption text books, but since I find myself dangling at the end of my parental rope at the moment, I am going with it!
On a serious note, we continue to be in awe of the transition and adjustment not only Mekdes has and is making, but that our other gals are as well.   We continue on our adoption journey finding moments of pure joy and love along the way and it is glorious!

Davis cousins visit for the Fourth--what fun!

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Mekdes cannot get enough time in the water!