Daddy and Em at the water table
Emerson LOVES the baby area at the children's museum :)
Mama last week @ 30 weeks...this baby will be here soon!
Jatin Update: We've been given an estimated timeline from JOH regarding when we can hope to bring Jatin home. Lisa is thinking it'll be another 9 months or so, which we put us traveling in March of next year.
Jatin will be 3 years 4 months old, Emerson will be just 2, and the baby will be 7 months old. The biggest question right now is whether or not to bring the little ones. I know, most of you probably think we are crazy for even considering taking them. However, we practice "attachment parenting" and so the thought of being without 2 of our kids for any length of time kills us. Obviously, we'll need 2 extra adults to travel with us if they come--advocating for each of them while we can focus most of our attention on Jatin. We've thought about the pros and cons of bonding, travel, kids getting sick, sleepless nights...and still don't know. I'd be open to your thoughts if you have any. Until we go, we'll be praying about the right thing to do for our whole family.
Tough decision to bring kiddos or not -- totally understand. We've been both ways, and even recently thought about it again until we realized we didn't apply for an Indian Visa for him because we were never really serious about him going :) I think it depends on what your kids can tolerate. Our son who is 6 1/2 is really sensitive and being a boy, very visual - we are a bit concerned about whether he can handle all that he might take in...all the sights, potential visuals of poverty that he's never known. When I traveled to Kenya the first time, just driving in the van with my team members I cried to myself for over 30 minutes on the drive just seeing tiny children going through the garbage along the road looking for food (that image remains with me to this very day) ... I mean it was shocking to my system. On the other hand, I will tell you that Joshua was around 3 when I went to Kenya - and he really punished me when I returned.... didn't really want to talk to me or be around me for about 10 days when I got home... he didn't like me leaving him...and it showed. But he did eventually understand and we've continued to share that trip was for the Lord and build that into our family values. If you do decide to leave kiddos, I have a lot of ideas on how you can help care givers at home pass the days (our mission's leader gave me these ideas)...I think Joshua is actually looking forward to us leaving - we've been on a few other mission trips since our first so he knows what to expect :) For us, we are not taking Joshua because of all the above, but also because of India's heat, food, all outside of our element, luggage carrying, busy places (fear losing him), fear of him getting sick, lasting images, and we really want to use those days in-country to totally be able to focus on Lauren. One webinar (topic of siblings) suggested that parents should bond with new child first before other children attempt to bond. This seems to make a lot of sense to us. So I guess I would say, for us, we're not taking him... but only you know what's right for your family. If you want to talk or brainstorm on ideas... email me. bblunt@insightbb.com
ReplyDeleteExcited for you,
Renae.
Wow, your adoption is moving SO quickly!!! That is fantastic! You will all continue to be in our prayers as you prepare to welcome your next two children into your family. I'm so glad that Emerson is doing well after surgery, too. :-)
ReplyDeleteAs you know, we are bringing Caroline to India with us, but our situation is so different from yours. Caroline is an only child and is older than your current two. I think that it would be harder on her to be left at home than it would be if she was younger and also had a sibling staying home with her. Also, having been adopted herself, she understands a lot of what is happening, and I think that it will make things click even more for her to be a part of her sister's adoption.
I don't know if you still follow i-Child, but there was a big discussion on this subject not too long ago, and if I remember correctly, it was the general consensus that if you are bringing a child/children older than the child you are adopting, it usually goes well, but if the other child/children are younger, it makes things more difficult for the child being adopted. Maybe if you go into the message archives, you can find that discussion thread. I'm sure there's a lot more to it, but I don't remember it all now. I don't remember attachment parenting coming up, either, so that is a whole other factor to consider.
I know that in the end, you will do what is best for all of the children, though, whatever that may be, because you are just that kind of family. :-)
God bless you all,
Teresa
Thanks so much, ladies. I think we are starting to lean towards leaving the little ones. As hard as it will be, it's probably the best decision. Thinking of you both often :)
ReplyDelete