Wanted to give a very brief update (since it is 1 a.m.):
We have now been home for about 2 1/2 months and everyone is adjusting. Overall, things are going well, though the adjustment period has been demanding in a number of ways. We are beginning to emerge a little from our "cocoon" and start to return to some of our "normal" activities. Although I was a little skeptical of the cocoon concept when I first heard it, I can honestly say that I am a believer in the wisdom of the cocoon period. Your adopted child needs to attach to YOU. If you have adopted or are considering adopting, I strongly recommend The Connected Child by Karyn Purvis. The information and strategies are invaluable.
I will backtrack and give more details about our time in Ethiopia and events since our return later, but just wanted to let everyone know we are still here and are doing fine. Our days have been very full and time to write has been scarce.
On the list of things that would have been nice to know before we got home, I would like to add the following:
It would have been REALLY nice to know that there is an Amharic word for "dead" that sounds tremendously like the English word "safe".
When you, as a parent, tell your new child that you want him to be safe, you would like him to understand that you mean safe, not dead. Just sayin'.
We have now been home for about 2 1/2 months and everyone is adjusting. Overall, things are going well, though the adjustment period has been demanding in a number of ways. We are beginning to emerge a little from our "cocoon" and start to return to some of our "normal" activities. Although I was a little skeptical of the cocoon concept when I first heard it, I can honestly say that I am a believer in the wisdom of the cocoon period. Your adopted child needs to attach to YOU. If you have adopted or are considering adopting, I strongly recommend The Connected Child by Karyn Purvis. The information and strategies are invaluable.
I will backtrack and give more details about our time in Ethiopia and events since our return later, but just wanted to let everyone know we are still here and are doing fine. Our days have been very full and time to write has been scarce.
On the list of things that would have been nice to know before we got home, I would like to add the following:
It would have been REALLY nice to know that there is an Amharic word for "dead" that sounds tremendously like the English word "safe".
When you, as a parent, tell your new child that you want him to be safe, you would like him to understand that you mean safe, not dead. Just sayin'.
