You are currently browsing the monthly archive for August 2007.
There is this thing that happens to runners–if you are one, you know what I mean. It helps you drag your tired butt out of bed, put on your shoes and shorts and pound the streets for a mile or two, or seven or eight. It’s this sense of calm that brings you into a weird harmony with everyone and everything. It is a contentment that brings you closer to being at peace with the world. And you know it is going to happen no matter how bad you feel at the start; no matter how much your body protests during your run; no matter how sore you are afterwards. This is running euphoria. It is the chemical response to physical activity. Last night I experienced a similar euphoria, though one induced by the notion that I am about to be a father. Read the rest of this entry »
A couple of weeks ago, I was headed into Petco or Petsmart. I can’t remember which one. As I entered the store, a dad (presumably) and his son (presumably again) were leaving the store. The kid was about 4 or 5 years old, and he wasn’t leaving voluntarily. On the contrary, he was leaving kicking and screaming. His dad was carrying him out like a sack of potatoes. The kid was screaming something but it was pretty hard to figure out. My best interpretation is “waahhhhhh….aaaaaaahhh…waahhhh…noooowwwwahhhhrrrrgggg!!!” Dad, who seemed pretty calm, said something like “I’ve had just about enough of that!”. And out the door they went. I’m assuming the in-store drama was averted Read the rest of this entry »
It has been a while since I posted anything. I haven’t much felt like blogging lately. I have quite a few thoughts about adoption, parenting, and life-with-kids, but nothing seems all that blog-worthy. Plus, there ain’t much happening…yet. Read the rest of this entry »
There are many things that my son will have to overcome in his life. He will have to find his place in a world where that is not as simple as it used to be. As an African-American male he will have to deal with the racism that is inherent in our society. He will have to come to terms with the loss and grief connected to his adoption. He may also have to deal with medical or psychological issues associated with his early life. Finally, he will have to live with the fact that his family is unlike most others because he has two Dads. Read the rest of this entry »
After all of the work that we had to do to the house, the inspection was pretty anti-climatic. In addition to hassling the contractor about finishing work on the house in order to meet safety requirements, we’ve also been running around for the last few months addressing all of the smaller issues. I can honestly say that at this time the house is ready—not just for the health inspection but it’s ready to have a little one running around. Baltimore City Department of Health contracts with a company to carry out home inspections for the Department of Social Services. The contractor then subcontracts with individual inspectors. On Saturday our inspector was in our house for less than twenty minutes. I had expected a lengthy, and more rigorous visit, but was just glad to get it behind us. Of all of the steps in the process this inspection was the most unnerving because there was so much to do and was the least straight forward part of the home study. Suffice to say that we passed without any problems. We live in a nice neighborhood, keep a nice house, and have taken all of the steps necessary to make this house safe. Next up: the Fire Inspection.
What’s it all for? Why must we go through all of this? When is it going to end? Sounds like I am whining but sometimes that is what it feels like. It is difficult with this strange love welling up inside of me for some kid. I don’t know who he is, have never seen him before. Frankly he may not even be born yet. Am I just another one of those nutty adoptive parents? Read the rest of this entry »
Things are happening a lot faster then we had anticipated. It kind of caught us off guard. Earlier in the spring we had spoken to another couple about their not-so-positive experiences dealing with Baltimore City Department of Social Services (BCDSS). That combined with the dismal experience in training did not leave us with high expectations. However, since attending the orientation just a few months ago, our Home Study in nearly complete.
I am new to the world of blogging, but after a month or so, I now understand how they serve to help people who may want to deal with serious personal issues. Blogging is a useful tool for expressing oneself. The interaction makes it possible for one to keep a journal that allows others to share in your pain, sorrow or joy. The communities that focus on adoption for example, seem to coalesce around issues that provide some level of support. They function as a resource that might not otherwise be available. I have explored everything from a Christian blogger praying desperately for an Ethiopian baby to an adoptee dealing with grief and loss over a mother that gave her up as an infant. There is always something to take away from reading them–information, understanding–even if you think the person is wrong or just plain stupid. Read the rest of this entry »
Allow us to take a momentary break from our lengthy posts to bring you this quick update…
We got the word a couple of days ago that the health department inspection will happen on Saturday 8/11. Finally, some movement! Also, the social worker is planning to stop by next week for visit #2 of the homestudy. We’ve got the fire department inspection still to do. We’re hoping we can get that done by the end of the month.
And now, back to our regularly scheduled program.
