Smart is the New Gansta

Loving the little gym.. you should see this girl shake a tail feather. Winter "Show" is next month :-)

It's hard to believe it's been almost two years since I adopted Hannie.  Time has flown, each day continues to be a blessing, especially now that we seem to be leaving the terrible two's behind us (although word on the street is THREEnagers are much worse, uh oh).  I can't believe I am actually starting to look at preschools for next August.  It may seem early, but in fact, I am probably about 3 years late.  Parents camped out for 10 days last week in freezing cold temperatures here in Cincinnati for a shot at getting their kids into the German Immersion Magnet School.  The Academy of World Languages is even harder to get into, not to mention it's an hour drive from our house.  But it's really important to me that Hannah grow up with a global awareness and perspective.  I want her to be, as her Godmother puts it, "At Home In the World." So what to do?  Do we move? Spend summers abroad?  Do we go with the local preschool and get a language tutor?  Lots of tough decisions to be made between now and then.  I read recently that companies on the S &P 500 generate 46% of their profits outside of the US.  And yet, only 37% of young American's can find Iraq (a country troops have been in since 2003) on a map.  But that is a soapbox rant for another day.  If anyone has any suggestions on education, they would be appreciated.   

In other news, I am probably going to be changing the focus of my blog. For so long, it has been adoption centered, and, although I will always be an adoption advocate at heart, at this point in my life, my total focus is on being a parent.  I recently ordered an online home-school curriculum for Hannie and I am happy to report she has proven to be a bright and enthusiastic little scholar.  In the past week, she has learned to identify coins, recognize 10 sight words, comprehend basic comparative and superlative terminology, and use basic scissor skills.  If anyone is interested, I have videos of all of her lessons (I'll post sight words below).  I wish I could go back 3 years and tell panicked pre-adoptive parent compulsive worrier angst ridden me that there would be days like today, when my child impresses me so much it actually takes my breath away.  Good for her. Clearly, smart is the new gangsta.

What has also captured our attention lately, as the frigid temps set in, is arts and craft projects. This is funny because we Herman's are not what you would call Do It Yourself-ers.  My dad once tried to jump a friend's car and, long story short, was declared legally dead for three minutes (joking).  In college, we had to build a mechanical model of the human larynx.  I thought I had done but a pretty good job until I came out of my room one morning and found mine just sitting on the counter....Spontaneously on fire. You get the picture.

  But if at first you don't succeed, right?  So here is a sneak peak of our projects....

Project 1: Treats for Hannah's upcoming 1st Annual Christmas Tea Party (courtesy of Pinterest)...
              

Project 2, Hannie's Dress Up Clothes Bin Christmas Present (made for less that $30)...If anyone wants the directions, just shoot me an email.










Project 3, dress making for Hannah's Christmas Picture.....





So I know I said I was getting away from adoption, but just remembered a couple of things.. HERE is a great product called Leaves of Love which is actually a Family Tree Kit for adoptive families. Also, THERE is a great list of stories explaining adoption to children.  Also, sad to report that Peace Corps is LEAVING Kazakhstan.

So I guess that is the direction my blog is going...sewing, cooking, adoption building, crafting, maybe a little photography, traveling with kids, etc. And I'll do it as long as it keeps making me happy.  And of course, I'll keep adding pictures of a super cute, tenacious, terrific two year who calls me Mom. Happy Thanksgiving, Turkeys! ~Erin

It's Fall Y'all :-)

 

It's Fall Y'all!!  

"You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around..."  Hannie, in the past few months, has become the next America Idol.  She sings anything and everything, I wish there were some Halloween songs to teach her. Speaking of festivities, we have been having an Awesome Autumn this year!  Hannie and I have been enjoying all the fall fun that Southwestern Ohio has to offer this year, including HallZOOeen with some Kaz families, King's Island Howl-O-Fest, and The Great Pumpkin Fest in West Chester.  We are getting many miles out of the $12 Walmart pirate costume, which is good, since by the time the actual Holiday roles around, it will most likely be too cold to actually wear it.  We also have her best friend Ava's 3rd birthday party, Trunk or Treat, and a trip to Barn and Bunk for pumpkins and our annual "How Tall This Fall" picture to look forward to.  Hannah is currently enjoying gymnastics and swimming lessons.  We have our "Wednesday Evening Routine" of going to the YMCA, then to Target and Starbucks for hot vanilla steamers and cake pops.  We both love it. Last year at this time I blogged about being worried she might never walk.  I am proud to announce she is now the fasted runner in her class!    

Hannah continues to thrive.  She is becoming a great conversationalist, here are a few of our recent discussions:

Hannie (handing me my cell phone): I wanna call Uncle Garry

Me: It's late, he is sleeping.

Hannie (audible sigh): It okay.  I text him instead.

Hannah: I wanna hold a candle.

Me: okay...

Hannah: I not stick it up my nose, okay? Dat nice Mommy?!

Hannah: What dat man wearing? Why he wear dat shirt?!

Me: Shssshhhh!!

Sidenote: It wasn't a man.  It was a very ugly woman.

Hannah (to a boy in her music class): Hey! Hey! HEY!!!

Me: Hannah, that is not polite, please use his name to get his attention.

Music Teacher: She is.  His name is Heyward.

  Awkward :-)

She is still a pistol, but the cuteness and funny personality more than make up for the moments of toddler drama.  

On that note, I wanted to share an article that I feel should be required reading for any and all prospective adoptive parents.  In After The Airport, Jen Hatmaker, mother of 5 children, 2 adopted from Ethiopia, writes about the challenges of mothering kids who are dealing with trauma and loss.  For a variety of reasons, adoption and orphan care have become increasingly popular in recent years.  It's probably due to the internet, celebrity adoptions, and events like Orphan Sunday, which aims to bring increased attention and awareness to the plight of disadvantaged and orphaned children around the world.  

These are all good things.   

But. Life is not The Blind Side, and some of the media that perpetuates fluffy, feel good, half-truths about adoption can be damaging.  We have to remember that it's not all about homecoming parties and happy airport pictures and congratulatory facebook fervor.  It's about attachment and bonding and behavior management and rage and fear and exhaustion and the entire gamut of emotions that come with parenting children who, as Jen Hatmaker so perfectly puts it, 

 

 have been abused, abandoned, neglected, given away, given up, and left alone are shaken so deeply, so intrinsically, they absolutely require parents who are willing to wholly invest in their healing; through the screaming, the fits, the anger, the shame, the entitlement, the bed-wetting, the spitting, the rejection, the bone-chilling fear. Parents who are willing to become the safe place, the Forever these children hope for but are too terrified to believe in just yet.

There are about 170 million orphans on earth.   Adoption is not the answer for every child, for every family.  But it is one answer, it was my answer, and like Jen Hatmaker I'll go to the grave begging more people to answer the call to Orphan Care.

But if you do decide to open their homes and minds and hearts to abandoned children, please consider these points..

1. Educate yourself.  Don't unintentionally perpetuate the cycle of disruption and corruption.  Do your research, prepare, understand that many (BUT NOT ALL)  adoption agencies are for-profit organizations and are not necessarily ethical and transparent. Be aware that adopted children, no matter what the country or situation, come from trauma.  Remember that, in the end, after the paperwork and travel and court dates and emotions, you can't just be about adoption, you have to be into parenting. 

2. Supporting the RIGHT organizations.  Like Transparency International and other NGOs that publicize and fight against corporate and political corruption in international development. Like The Gates Foundation, which develops culturally sensitive family planning initiatives intended to improve both maternal and child health and survival while also addressing reproductive health and population issues in developing countries. 

3.  And last and most importantly, have Faith and Prayer and Trust in a God who wrapped his arms around our children during the times when we could not.  Faith that He loves and protects our children during the days and months and sometimes years when there is no one to dry their tears and comfort them.  And Faith that he will heal the hurt and trauma caused by these past experiences.  

Because this is what God Does....

...and that's what it's all about.



Happy Fall Y'all. Love, Erin