Ten years ago today, we picked up our healthy infant boy from Catholic Charities. He is so tall now and such a big boy; it is hard to believe, when I look at him, he is ten. Although, just today when I looked in the rear view mirror of the car, I got to see his little baby face again. He was looking at his brother, his mind going a mile a minute and trying to figure out what to say or do next.
After dinner tonight, DH and I were in the kitchen and I said we were going to celebrate his adoption day or "gotcha day" rather...it took six months for the actual adoption. Builder popped around the corner, smiling, and said, "You mean ten years since I joined you?" We laughed and said, "Yes." I commented on his super sensitive ears. He can hear like a bat; one of the first indications of his sensory issues.
The past nine years have been nothing like I imagined. The first year, yes, probably too good to be true...my Dad named him Cruise Control- he was so easy.
However, maybe I should have been wiser. Anyone having children should have no prior idea of what their life will be like. Ever. Anyone breathing, for that matter. It can change on a dime, as my friend said this weekend.
I am still musing on Builder's terminology "when I joined you". For some reason Mork from Mork and Mindy comes to mind http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mork_&_Mindy. Mork showed up and observed life. He reminds me of my child. Builder showed up and observed life. He taught us not everyone is the same. Not everyone is on the same page. Some people are indeed dancing to a different drum. His drum just happens to have a lot of duct tape, a rat, and not a lot of homework done. And a missing gym shirt.
I remember the day I saw the balloon out front of your new house and I said to paul, I think they adopted a boy today, they must have. I remember, clearly, your friends coming and going. I knew it was in the beginning of January but didn't realize it was the 5th (my dad's birthday).
ReplyDeleteHe has opened us up to so much that we never would have realized in the world, even though much of it is hard, he most certainly has made life interesting.
10 years since you've been mom, and girlfriend, you are a good one! I hope the next 10 years work out to be a little bit easier (or more) because you deserve it.