I have done some research this morning and found that there is no change to the status of Ukraine at this time. It is still open for adoption applications. So, we have ‘time on our hands.’ I think that this would be a good opportunity to tell you about a dear family that is in my neighborhood. Neighborhood might be a stretch since I live in the middle of nowhere with no close neighbors….but we will call it that because I can drive to their house in 10-15 minutes. That’s close out here in ruralville.
Anyway, this family went to (then Russia) but probably Ukraine and adopted two little girls. One was around eight, the other two…ish. Neither girl spoke any English. That was many years ago. They are now well into high school (probably close to graduation) and moving toward high school. I heard the neatest story about them recently. I was at a funeral for the father for the girls. In the course of talking about this amazing man’s life, this little tale was told amongst the attendees. As these little girls grew and struggled within their new home, they would question their father, “Tell us about when you went and got us.”
From what I understand, he would spin a tale that was so long and detailed and…fictional but would make them laugh and laugh. Sometimes he would tell them that he biked all the way from home to Russia and carried them on the back of the bike. The next time, he swam to Russia. Then he ran and carried them home on his back….you get the idea. The idea so tickled me. I am not a story teller. Yet I found so much value in the fact that he was. I know that there were hard times. He took those hard times and made them funny and manageable for his girls.
How delighted they still are to have those memories of their father and ‘his interpretation’ of their journey. That is a gift that they will take with them in life. When a child is adopted at eight years old. They know, see and experience everything. Their brains register every difference. They are uncomfortable for a longer period than [most] younger adoptees. The best way to work through uncomfortable stretches…? Laughter. I believe that with all of my heart. As these girls move out of high school and into the world, may they take the gift of laughter and story-telling that they learned from their father with them and eventually pass it to their own children. It is definitely a gift worth giving.
~Angie