Sunday, February 25, 2007

What a weekend!!!

I see from my posts that I am managing one a week now. When I started this endeavor I had hoped to post daily so that we would have a record of what we were doing or thinking when Isabel was born etc. Well, I am doing my best but life always seems to get in the way. I don't know how people can blog everyday!!!!
So yes, a good weekend but Camie Cat is sick and having some trouble. When you have a nineteen year old kitty, you can't help but worry. I coaxed her into eating with some defrosted Christmas turkey but she is still having some tummy troubles :( My poor darling, she just curls up in my arms and won't let me go.
She had to this morning though, as yesterday and today we went to an Adoption Education Workshop, put on by our agency. It was good and although I didn't feel that any of the information was new, the discussions were super. Each day we had a panel of adoptive parents and adoptees. Their stories and their willingness to answer our questions was really beneficial. We also viewed a DVD which had inter-racial adult adoptees talking and it was super. The one comment that sticks in my mind is "you had better be able to explain to your child why you adopted her when you are Caucasian and your child is not". Shawn has a different experience than I do being from the Caribbean, but I am a short, white, blond haired, blue eyed girl so these comments really hit home.
I know that we are adopting from China because we have always felt that our daughter was there. This was before we knew anything about the process, the risk factors etc but I think that I will have to delve a little deeper so that I can give Isabel a concrete and truthful answer to this question. The one thing I do know and I have said it before, is that adoption was not our second choice - it was our first and Isabel is not a "replacement" for our "real" birth child. From what I have read and heard, so many adoptees feel that they are the "second" choice and I can't ever imagine feeling like that or having a child who feels this way. In fact, when I was little there were times when I would say "I wish I was adopted" when I was mad. Many of my friends were and they were always told that they were "special" and "chosen" which I thought was so much better than just being born to my parents. Ah life. Off to think and take care of my sick kitty...

5 comments:

C's Mom said...

Hope that kitty is feeling better now.

Hey - those who blog everyday simply don't sleep ;0)

That's me - wide awake!

D & S said...

Poor kitty, not feeling well. I also think a lot about what we'll tell the baby when she starts asking questions. I hope the right words come out.

Middle-Aged Moi said...

Hey there! I know what you mean about giving your daughter an honest answer about her adoption. I DON'T want her to feel in ANY way that she is second best. I think those workshops are great because they really make you think about how you're going to handle things.So much to learn....so much time to learn it in.....:-)

Red Sand said...

Oh no! Sending get-well thoughts to Camie.

The race question is obviously a complicated one. I think the best thing we can do for ourselves and our children is to read as much as possible, talk to others as much as possible, and not be afraid to question ourselves and our reactions, thoughts, and assumptions. Easier said then done, of course.

4D said...

Hope kitty is feeling better!

Adoption is our first choice as well. The topic of adoption should be a free and open discussion in our home.

Keep smilin!