Parenting After Adoption

One thing I will never truly know is what is like to walk in my children’s shoes. This is true of them all. I can usually empathize with them, though, because I have been through similar experiences. I can tell stories of my own childhood and we can connect over shared emotions through similar experiences.

What I will never know is how it might feel to be adopted, how it might feel to be the lone dark-skinned child in family where everyone else has very light skin, or how it feels to be judged solely upon the color of my skin? Nor for the latter to be the source of being pre-judged by those around me. (more…)

This weekend my family will celebrate Haiti’s Flag Day, which is an important holiday in Haiti. On Friday, I will send all of my children to school with mini Haitian flags and a brief history of Haiti’s flag to read to their class. Lucas will wear his My Two Countries t-shirt. On Saturday, we will meet with local group of Haitian people and adoptive families to celebrate at a local park. On Sunday, we will honor the actual day of the holiday by eating traditional Haitian food for dinner.

For Chinese New Year, we were thrilled to have my sister and niece visit. We celebrated by going to the most authentic Mandarin restaurant available with them and our extended family. My sister shared with us about my niece’s language and culture. Months later, all of my children still talk about the experience. They were only vaguely aware of China until my niece joined our family. Now they take as much interest in her culture as they do their siblings’ Haitian culture. (more…)

Even in Haiti, we could see a lively sense of humor hidden underneath the layers of distrust and fear. One of the first experiences where it began to work its way to the surface was after the first time Lucas attended a birthday party. My husband had taken the kids to a cousin’s birthday party while I stayed home. As soon as Lucas came through the door, he sought me out. “Mama! Mama! Listen to me!”, he said then sang the first line of the Happy Birthday song a few times before blowing out imaginary candles and laughing a fully belly laugh. Lucas thought it absolutely hilarious that we Americans light our cakes on fire!

Copyright © 2007 Becky Wilson. All Rights Reserved.

If you’re looking for something yummy to eat with your dinner tonight, here is the recipe for Haitian Red Beans and Rice. There are many versions. This is the one I know and my family enjoys. It tastes very similar to what I’ve eaten in Haiti.

I’ll continue to share more recipes from a variety of countries and cultures. I’m always looking for new recipes, so I invite you send me your recipes and I will include them here. (more…)

Today is my first Fourth of July as a mother. Last year we had friends over for a cook-out and to watch fireworks. This year, we will sit in our drive way with a baby monitor in our laps catching whatever fireworks reach our home. We are so truly blessed!

One year ago, I had no idea my life was about to change forever. (more…)