This week I also finished up my autobiography, a requirement from Bethany (our agency) consisting of three pages of questions that we have to answer in an autobiographical form. This has been very time consuming and my project is pretty lengthy. It has been nice to explain my life and realize what has brought me to the here and now. One of the questions, that I found pretty ironic to be answering the week of a stomach bug, was "What are your expectations of an adopted child?" This was my response...
I know that there are many parenting lessons that I have not learned but after parenting for the last seven years, I know that I cannot come into this with expectations for this child. A book I read recently put it in a way that I thought was very appropriate: “Children are like aliens from another planet. You cannot expect them to act politely or courteously, you have to teach it all”. I have seen this play out in my own children. I have had to explain everything from why we don't lick things in public restrooms to why we say thank you when we receive a gift even if its not something they specifically asked for. This always reminds me just how new their little brains are. I do expect another child in our home to stretch me. I expect to be tested in patience, compassion, and love. I expect more blow-out diapers, midnight bedding covered in puke, lots of sleepless nights, long winter days stuck inside, big messes and broken things, the disappointment of a lie, kids making each other cry, a bit of worry, and certainly some heartache. Each child in my home is a continual reminder that I need God. I need His wisdom and His strength and I am sure any additional children will only solidify that. At the same time, I know there will be lots of joys, sweet moments of bonding, growing compassion, laughter, heartwarming conversations, fun days at the park, hours of swimming and playing, and numerous bits of life that I will treasure forever. I know that most of all, with the good and bad considered, I will look back on the child's life when they are grown and know it was all worth it and it was all exactly what God had planned for us both.