That's right ProU, in a about a week I'm going to be a mommy! I've been feeling some maternal instincts lately and I thought that maybe it was time to have a bun in the oven. But no, I'm not even pregnant. Out of nowhere, a friend mentioned to my husband that there's an abandoned children's home in my city.
I almost immediately knew that this was it. The maternal instincts and the sudden awareness of needy children was not a coincidence. My husband and I went to visit the home tonight and the children were all so darling. They're happy and just kids. They have disabilities, some more serious than others, but the home provides good medical care and most of them are doing quite well.
One particular little girl named Gongli needs foster parents so that she can transition to her adoptive parents later this year. I would have taken the whole crew home, but the director feels that Gongli needs the most attention now and is ready to leave the home. The children's home will now be able to take another child out the city orphanage too. Children with disabilities simply need more care that the orphanage doesn't have the resources to provide, especially for the newborns that need surgery.
I couldn't be happier. I'm going to be a mom to Gongli starting next week and I didn't give have to get pregnant or give birth!
On a more serious note though, there needs to be more awareness of abandoned children with disabilities around the world. I can't speak for every country, but in China the children are not wanted because they are not normal, look bad or the family doesn't want or have the resources to care of them. Everyone wants the perfect child, but all children deserve good parents. Maybe I can put some pictures up soon and I'll be sure to make this new foster parenting topic a series if anyone out there is interested.
One more time, I'm so excited that my husband and I get to be foster parents to a lovely little girl.
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Now THAT's progressive!
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman
I don't remember which blog got me thinking about foster care, but someone wrote about and it got some wheels moving. The blogs here about foster care are highly progressive too!
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
I think that it is GREAT that you are taking on this repondsibility. My main concern is... later in the year... when her adopting parents come to get her... isn't that going to be hard on you, your husband and her? Are you going to be able to have contact with her afterwards?
I've though about this today a lot. I think my husband and I are clear that we are fulfilling an important role, but she is not our daughter. She's been registered with the government already and has parents abroad lined up. We'll be able to send picture and updates to the adoptive parents before they make arrangements to get to China is pick her up. I don't expect her to be with us for more than a couple months.
Thanks for keeping me aware of this though. It will be hard to say goodbye.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
No problem... Good Luck!
... and I really do think it's great that you are doing this. We need more kind-hearted people like you and your husband.
There are so many children out there who need people to care for them. So many people are driven away at the thought of taking in an older child for fear of dealing with the emotional trauma these children may have.
Gongli is luck to have you and your husband to take care of her until her adoptive parents can take her home! You'll be a great "mom."
I had to give you a 5 for this because you decided to not only adopt a child but a child with disabilities. Most people don't adopt "those " kind of kids because they do not want to take the part of people staring at their child , making fun of them, giving the child more attention than usual and more. If the majority of the world that did'nt have kids could be like you, we would have a better world. Just like ediblewoman said that is being progressive. At least you did'nt have to get your labored induced due to a car wreck, get cut open to get the baby out, then have pain at the surgery site for 2 weeks. Oh yeah meds really do help. But congratulations and yes I want to see yuor future child's pictures.
Please read and rate my blog:
http://www.progressiveu.org/134728-you-can-find-me-and-others-progressiv...
Comments are appreciated too. Thanks.
So many things are nice about our situation here. I've been thinking about how we'll be stared at and I just laugh. We already get stared out like we're naked for being foreigners, so people possibly staring a little more won't be anything to worry about.
Thanks for the encouragement.
www.progressiveu.org/blog/americangirlinchina
I love your caring nature it is wonderful..and not having to push the baby out..even better! I'm very happy for you! :)
I am here to inform and help:
http://www.progressiveu.org/032913-lupus-uncureable-wait-what
Love comments? I do too!
This is amazing, I decided I want to adopt a child from another country someday (I'm only 18 so I have some time) and it makes me happy to know that you are caring for this little girl. I think it is so progressive and selfless of you and I cannot even explain my ecstatic feelings! :]
Après la pluie le beau temps. ♥
Check out my latest blog! :]
I have to give you a high-five for that! What a great thing to be doing for this little girl's life! There is no doubt she will benefit greatly from the one on one time and love she'll be getting from you and your husband! I've been interested in adoption for a long time (in fact, I'm pretty sure I'll adopt an AIDS orphan from Malawi someday; I traveled with the Peace Corps in Malawi and we drove by many, many sad, rundown orphanages there where the kids where orphans because everyone who could take care of them had died from AIDS...) Anyway, I'm with the folks who think adoption overseas is wonderful; I felt for a while like stars where doing it to gain attention and popularity, but I'm back to thinking their hearts are in the right place. I recently talked with the director of an orphanage in Nepal who showed me heartbreaking photos of babies in orphanages in Nepal; the situation is similar to in China where babies are given to orphanages if they aren't "prefect." She and her husband adopted an adorable little baby with a jaw deformity which made his face look funny; but he was still an adorable little kid!
Anyway, congratulation and have fun being a mommy!
Love ya,
Carrot