I love reading adoption blogs. It is so encouraging and inspiring to read about how the Lord works to bring beautiful orphans into families. It also is nice to be able to relate to what families are experiencing in their adoption journeys- it helps me not feel alone during the difficult phases and is a way to celebrate during the good times.
One thing I notice though as I read blogs is often people write about the progress their kiddo is making with whatever skill or task- learning English, numbers, colors, shapes, etc. In sharing this good news, they often share things they have done to help their child in this progress- certain toys, certain technology, certain program, certain activity you do with them etc. Hence, it often ends up sounding like because we did this, our child now has mastered this particular skill.
That is great when we can help our child progress down the road of learning. There have been a few things I know I have helped teach Jonah and Ben. Its satisfying and a nice sense of accomplishment. And I know people sharing those experiences on their blogs is way to help other families and give them ideas to try.
However, there are many things I have worked very hard at teaching Jonah especially, that just have not taken. Just because I have done certain things, we did not end up with the hoped results. Toilet training is one of those areas as well as things regarding Jonah's speech.
Does it mean I have failed or haven't done enough? Since this is always the nagging thought in the back of my head, then reading blogs where everything sounds successful can really make me feel bad.
So I guess today I am just advocating for room for some not so successfuls "if this, than that".
Not everything works as planned with any child. In our own personal experience, Ben learns in a much different and often more predictable way than Jonah. Jonah's way has always been one filled with twists and turns from the very beginning. That is just Jonah. He is still an amazing bright and smart little boy, but things just happen differently for him and at a different rate.
So if you are a mom of a Jonah out there, I am encouraging you and I to relax. Our blogs might not have all the success stories in them because the success doesn't always happen as planned. But we are still on a incredible journey that we wouldn't trade for the world, right?
If I didn't have the privilege of these wonderful boys in my life, then I would be missing out on some very wonderful experiences! Now that is the best IF THIS, THAN THAT!
And now because posts are always more interesting with pictures, here are some random cute (of course) pictures that show our amazing life with our kiddos!
According to Jonah's philosophy of life,
the question isn't "Why does Jonah have a pull up on his head?" but rather "Why don't you?" :)
Jonah has a 4 legged stalker!
Random breakfast happiness!
Jonah pretending to be our Packer coach, Mike McCarthy. Note: he came up with this "costume" all by himself. The pencil is the microphone he saw the coach talking into. Pretty clever, isn't it? Never saw Coach McCarthy in a flash cape though...
Our boys at the Daniel Tiger Live show this past January.
They were fine as long as they had their headphones on to buffer the loudness.
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