Check out this video, of a rather nice orphanage that does international adoption in China. I'm assuming it's a rather nice one, because otherwise they wouldn't have an adoptive parent roaming around with a camera.
http://www.dropshots.com/day.php?userid=97713&cdate=20060517&ctime=002610
Don't you want to go and get several?
Friday, June 23, 2006
Friday, June 16, 2006
Everyone wants to know why
The question I've been asked so many many times is why. I give a different reason every time I'm asked. You see, I have lots of wonderful reasons.
For instance, I believe in big families. I feel that children are best raised in large families. It makes perfect sense to me that children with lots of siblings are more generous, helpful, empathetic, and kind. Wouldn't they have to be? There is always someone who needs more, whose needs must be met first, and the others learn to wait, and take their turn. They also learn to help and to be reliable and diligent. We are lucky to have more than enough material goods. If I only had 2 or 3 children, these would be very spoiled children. Now by force the children lead more measured lives, with some care as to what is spent, and on what. The older children know not to ask for spending money, and have learned to be frugal. If we must sacrifice some leisure time, if our vacations aren't spectacular, if the children must share their bedrooms, I think we will all be the better for it. As my decorator friend says: Less is More.
And if we want a large family, doesn't it make sense to take a child from an orphanage, who would never know the love of a mother and father and the riotous joy of an army of siblings? I once read a terribly sad report from Unicef on the plight of children growing up without families. The world is full of them, sleeping on pavements, working long hours for scant wages, at the mercy of any and all potential abusers. One time I saw a picture of abandoned little children sleeping on the floor of the airport in Singapore. And airline passengers stepping around them, unconcerned. One shouldn't be unconcerned, right? Yes, money given in charity does a world of good, but one child given a family is also a whole world of good.
For instance, I believe in big families. I feel that children are best raised in large families. It makes perfect sense to me that children with lots of siblings are more generous, helpful, empathetic, and kind. Wouldn't they have to be? There is always someone who needs more, whose needs must be met first, and the others learn to wait, and take their turn. They also learn to help and to be reliable and diligent. We are lucky to have more than enough material goods. If I only had 2 or 3 children, these would be very spoiled children. Now by force the children lead more measured lives, with some care as to what is spent, and on what. The older children know not to ask for spending money, and have learned to be frugal. If we must sacrifice some leisure time, if our vacations aren't spectacular, if the children must share their bedrooms, I think we will all be the better for it. As my decorator friend says: Less is More.
And if we want a large family, doesn't it make sense to take a child from an orphanage, who would never know the love of a mother and father and the riotous joy of an army of siblings? I once read a terribly sad report from Unicef on the plight of children growing up without families. The world is full of them, sleeping on pavements, working long hours for scant wages, at the mercy of any and all potential abusers. One time I saw a picture of abandoned little children sleeping on the floor of the airport in Singapore. And airline passengers stepping around them, unconcerned. One shouldn't be unconcerned, right? Yes, money given in charity does a world of good, but one child given a family is also a whole world of good.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Our Family
This is us. The picture is a little old, but we were all dressed up. I sent it to China with our dossier
HI FRIENDS
This is my very first post, and I'm not sure how much, or what to say. I've started this blog to make it easier for my friends and family to follow along in our adoption process, especially while in China. I have a vision of being able to post lots of beautiful pictures of our new baby with lots of great commentary, and people who care can log on and see it all. This presupposes some technological savvy on my part, which is lacking. So I'll practice for a while.
We are your basic family, Mami, Papi and four children. I say Mami and Papi because I'm Cuban-American, therefore we refer to our coming little girl as Our Chinita.
We sent in our dossier in November of 2005. We have 3 boys, ages 11, 6, and 2. We also have a 9 year old daughter. As you can see, we need another girl!
When we first applied, we were told there would be a 7 month wait, but this has stretched out and now we're hoping we get our referral in November and will travel in December. But this is just a hope, and it could go longer. We requested a baby girl, as young as possible, and we are hoping she'll be 7 or 8 months old, although however old she is will be fine with us.
We don't know what her name will be, this is in negotiation.
We are your basic family, Mami, Papi and four children. I say Mami and Papi because I'm Cuban-American, therefore we refer to our coming little girl as Our Chinita.
We sent in our dossier in November of 2005. We have 3 boys, ages 11, 6, and 2. We also have a 9 year old daughter. As you can see, we need another girl!
When we first applied, we were told there would be a 7 month wait, but this has stretched out and now we're hoping we get our referral in November and will travel in December. But this is just a hope, and it could go longer. We requested a baby girl, as young as possible, and we are hoping she'll be 7 or 8 months old, although however old she is will be fine with us.
We don't know what her name will be, this is in negotiation.
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