But I wanted to share this photo of Carmen in my shoes:
I'll write more next week when we're back from the Adirondacks for Jake's 17th birthday!!
All is well...
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Carmen Silver Shoes
I'm behind...I still have a post in drafts from last Thursday...
But I wanted to share this photo of Carmen in my shoes:
But I wanted to share this photo of Carmen in my shoes:
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Thursday, Sept. 20, 2007
"Your road is not CLOSED anymore! YAY!!"
How this child knew that we were today driving up our *regular* road, instead of taking the *detour* that we took last week because the road is closed, I have no idea. Her brain is beyond brilliant.
Anne: "Como se dice *pumpkin* en Espanol?"
Carmen: "Calabaza!"
I was very happy she told me that because she hasn't been speaking Spanish much around us. On the drive here, I asked her something and she said, "I want to say it in English."
Her Mom has told me of Carmen's *separate* worlds ~ her Spanish and her English worlds ~ and we're trying to make sure that she knows we are available for both. But I think it's a very sacred world to Carmen because it's between she and her madre. And I completely honor and respect that and neither Jake nor I *force* anything from that, of course (as we are always a child-led family). That's why it's extra special when some of her Spanish slips out around us...we know she feels Safe.
I was making pumpkin muffins in the kitchen while Jake and Carmen were playing close by with Beanie Babies (Oh, PRAISE THE UNIVERSE!! ... There is a NEW USE for our HUNDREDS OF BEANIE BABIES!!). I quietly said to myself as I looked at the recipe, "Hmm...I don't have cranberries. OH! I can put in sunflower seeds and walnuts!" Well, I actually found dried cranberries, so I added those, too.
Later, when Carmen was eating a muffin, she came to me happy and laughing and said, "You found cranberries!!" And she had one on her tongue and she stuck it out for me to see!!
I just hugged her. She's amazing and so aware. She and Jake are a good pair.
She found the movie *My Neighbor Totoro*...she said, "I LOVE movies!" (I later learned from her Mom that she doesn't actually watch movies!) And she asked to watch Totoro. She loved it.
As Carmen and Jake sat away from the tractor (to decide if it was going to be too loud for Carmen to ride, because she informed us that she doesn't like loud noises), she told Jake, "This will be my FIRST ride on a TRACTOR!!"
She decided it wasn't too loud and I took her for a little ride. She told me when she had enough and she and Jake were off to the swingset and the pond...
All is Well.
How this child knew that we were today driving up our *regular* road, instead of taking the *detour* that we took last week because the road is closed, I have no idea. Her brain is beyond brilliant.
Anne: "Como se dice *pumpkin* en Espanol?"
Carmen: "Calabaza!"
I was very happy she told me that because she hasn't been speaking Spanish much around us. On the drive here, I asked her something and she said, "I want to say it in English."
Her Mom has told me of Carmen's *separate* worlds ~ her Spanish and her English worlds ~ and we're trying to make sure that she knows we are available for both. But I think it's a very sacred world to Carmen because it's between she and her madre. And I completely honor and respect that and neither Jake nor I *force* anything from that, of course (as we are always a child-led family). That's why it's extra special when some of her Spanish slips out around us...we know she feels Safe.
I was making pumpkin muffins in the kitchen while Jake and Carmen were playing close by with Beanie Babies (Oh, PRAISE THE UNIVERSE!! ... There is a NEW USE for our HUNDREDS OF BEANIE BABIES!!). I quietly said to myself as I looked at the recipe, "Hmm...I don't have cranberries. OH! I can put in sunflower seeds and walnuts!" Well, I actually found dried cranberries, so I added those, too.
Later, when Carmen was eating a muffin, she came to me happy and laughing and said, "You found cranberries!!" And she had one on her tongue and she stuck it out for me to see!!
I just hugged her. She's amazing and so aware. She and Jake are a good pair.
She found the movie *My Neighbor Totoro*...she said, "I LOVE movies!" (I later learned from her Mom that she doesn't actually watch movies!) And she asked to watch Totoro. She loved it.
Jake discovered this anime (Japanese animation) when he was younger than Carmen and has loved anime ~ Miyazaki's in particular ~ ever since. It's a wonderful family-friendly movie.
As Carmen and Jake sat away from the tractor (to decide if it was going to be too loud for Carmen to ride, because she informed us that she doesn't like loud noises), she told Jake, "This will be my FIRST ride on a TRACTOR!!"
She decided it wasn't too loud and I took her for a little ride. She told me when she had enough and she and Jake were off to the swingset and the pond...
All is Well.
Early Morning Thoughts...
Carmen will ~ out of the blue and completely unrelated to anything we are currently saying or doing ~ tell us, "My Papa is a storyteller."
Jake and I always smile at each other, and then ask her questions about her Papa's storytelling, and how much it means to her. It's obviously something she holds very dear in her heart.
And when we were playing at Da'Vida, she asked about *That Other Guy*, a.k.a. Sam. And then she told Jake and I, "That other guy is fun to play with."
If you were Sam's friend on MySpace, you would see that he changed his name to read:
sam (that other guy)
:)
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
9/18/07 ~ Sillypants Day
Carmen was super silly today. She kept calling *me* SillyPants, along with other names like Tin Tan and Kin Kan! I eventually told her that I love my name, and I love it when people call me by my name. So then she was thinking about whether to call me *Annie* or *Anne Ohman*...and she decided to call me Anne.
:)
Jake started off by playing with these potato heads that we had. She quickly put them together, said that they were all girls and they were all named Mary. We played pretend with them for a long time, sending them on yarn rocketships to the moon and then to Spain (both destinations Carmen's ideas). She then had them all hold hands in a circle, as they danced.
We had more balloon fun. I LOVE making these spiral balloons, and after watching me make one by wrapping it around my fingers, Carmen wanted to make one around her arm. It worked! We then wrapped the tighter spirals around the looser spirals and they were Carmen's snakes that were "nice snakes" and she drew faces on them with a black marker, which eventually got onto all of our hands and our clothing!
Carmen was excited to go to the library today. On our way there, I told Jake that I had to call Dave (we walk right by his office), and he could go ahead and I'd meet them there. Jake said as he and Carmen walked to the library, Carmen said that I was calling *Funny Boy*. A little background...last week, Dave stopped into Da'Vida when we were there. He was being a little sassy to Carmen and she looked at him, trying to figure him out. Then her face broke into a smile and she declared to Dave, "You a Funny Boy!" Well, apparently the name stuck in her mind.
Jake and Carmen read LOADS of books while I browsed for more for my program. There was a little girl in the library with her Mom, and she and Carmen both had dog puppets, so I kind of started a connecting conversation and they played together for a long time. They built dog homes with the pillows. I was watching carefully, because I didn't want anything to happen that would upset Carmen, but she handled herself very well! Even when the little girl said that her dog wanted to bite Carmen's dog, Carmen just picked it up and said, "I'm holding it over my head so your dog can't bite it!"
After numerous books and much play, we moved on to get a bagel at Latte Lounge, went to the downtown toy store, where Carmen played with the trains and the baby carriages, and then to the art store. I had a small bag from the toy store and Carmen offered to carry it for me, as we walked and discussed what was in it. I love how deep her mind is.
As I invested in some very expensive artist colored pencils for Jake's birthday present, he and Carmen sat on the floor of the art store and read a book. Now *that* is a picture I wish I had gotten!
Back to Da'Vida to play with the new things I had gotten at the toy store...and we played with *Pop Bead Critters* for the rest of our time together, not only making critters, but EIGHT bracelets for Carmen!
So while it was a *sillypants* day for Carmen, she is still her brilliantly sweet self all of the time, and I wish Jake and I could remember all of the things that Carmen said that had us looking at each other, sending a message of *knowing* to each other...knowing that we are blessed to be in this child's life.
:)
Jake started off by playing with these potato heads that we had. She quickly put them together, said that they were all girls and they were all named Mary. We played pretend with them for a long time, sending them on yarn rocketships to the moon and then to Spain (both destinations Carmen's ideas). She then had them all hold hands in a circle, as they danced.
We had more balloon fun. I LOVE making these spiral balloons, and after watching me make one by wrapping it around my fingers, Carmen wanted to make one around her arm. It worked! We then wrapped the tighter spirals around the looser spirals and they were Carmen's snakes that were "nice snakes" and she drew faces on them with a black marker, which eventually got onto all of our hands and our clothing!
Carmen was excited to go to the library today. On our way there, I told Jake that I had to call Dave (we walk right by his office), and he could go ahead and I'd meet them there. Jake said as he and Carmen walked to the library, Carmen said that I was calling *Funny Boy*. A little background...last week, Dave stopped into Da'Vida when we were there. He was being a little sassy to Carmen and she looked at him, trying to figure him out. Then her face broke into a smile and she declared to Dave, "You a Funny Boy!" Well, apparently the name stuck in her mind.
Jake and Carmen read LOADS of books while I browsed for more for my program. There was a little girl in the library with her Mom, and she and Carmen both had dog puppets, so I kind of started a connecting conversation and they played together for a long time. They built dog homes with the pillows. I was watching carefully, because I didn't want anything to happen that would upset Carmen, but she handled herself very well! Even when the little girl said that her dog wanted to bite Carmen's dog, Carmen just picked it up and said, "I'm holding it over my head so your dog can't bite it!"
After numerous books and much play, we moved on to get a bagel at Latte Lounge, went to the downtown toy store, where Carmen played with the trains and the baby carriages, and then to the art store. I had a small bag from the toy store and Carmen offered to carry it for me, as we walked and discussed what was in it. I love how deep her mind is.
As I invested in some very expensive artist colored pencils for Jake's birthday present, he and Carmen sat on the floor of the art store and read a book. Now *that* is a picture I wish I had gotten!
Back to Da'Vida to play with the new things I had gotten at the toy store...and we played with *Pop Bead Critters* for the rest of our time together, not only making critters, but EIGHT bracelets for Carmen!
So while it was a *sillypants* day for Carmen, she is still her brilliantly sweet self all of the time, and I wish Jake and I could remember all of the things that Carmen said that had us looking at each other, sending a message of *knowing* to each other...knowing that we are blessed to be in this child's life.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
9/13/07 ~ First day at *our* home!
"What can I do with her in the backseat of the car?"
I loved that question that Jake asked this morning. It showed that his mind is working and focused on his *job* and making sweet Carmen happy and comfortable.
I must say, I'm having a difficult time referring to this as his *job* because it's such a joyful job, such a blessing in all of our lives...but isn't that what the ideal job SHOULD be?? How wrong is it that society has it ingrained in my head that the word *job* should be equated with something NOT joyful and fulfilling?? OK...so this is my issue and I'll work on it.
:)
So the day began picking up Carmen and Jake reading her books in the backseat of the car. I was smiling the entire time, listening to their precious conversations and their laughter.
At home, I made a special Carmen plate of food for her to eat whenever she feels the urge. She and Jake spent the last hour playing with toys downstairs. She told Jake she needed to go potty (she lets him help her) and now they are upstairs, looking for scissors to cut things out of magazines. They're looking for scissors AND calling for them at the same time. :)
I loved that question that Jake asked this morning. It showed that his mind is working and focused on his *job* and making sweet Carmen happy and comfortable.
I must say, I'm having a difficult time referring to this as his *job* because it's such a joyful job, such a blessing in all of our lives...but isn't that what the ideal job SHOULD be?? How wrong is it that society has it ingrained in my head that the word *job* should be equated with something NOT joyful and fulfilling?? OK...so this is my issue and I'll work on it.
:)
So the day began picking up Carmen and Jake reading her books in the backseat of the car. I was smiling the entire time, listening to their precious conversations and their laughter.
At home, I made a special Carmen plate of food for her to eat whenever she feels the urge. She and Jake spent the last hour playing with toys downstairs. She told Jake she needed to go potty (she lets him help her) and now they are upstairs, looking for scissors to cut things out of magazines. They're looking for scissors AND calling for them at the same time. :)
Carmen loves saying that things are her *Favorite*. Guinea pigs are her *favorite* animal. Jake set up the chess board and they started stacking the wooden checkers and the checkers were Carmen's *favorite* thing! The pretzels that I put on her plate (Snyder's Organic Oat Bran) are her *favorite* snack!
She's so sweet and bursting with love and beauty. She keeps wanting to protect Nugget (the guinea pig) from Choco (our Welsh Corgi). And she keeps saying how BEAUTIFUL Nugget is! And now she is sharing her melon balls with Nugget.
"I like her," says Carmen.
:)
On to running and hopping while Jake collects stuff to paint coffee filters.
Jake was always a *rule-follower* and even one who would report anyone who broke any of the rules. So when he informed Carmen to wash her brush before she dipped it in another color, she showed him the possibility of NOT washing his brush! And Jake said, "Hm. That's actually quite pretty!"
We love Carmen because she tells us how it is. That's what we love in free kids. They let you know how to create an environment in which they can Shine. They know they are respected and it's an honor that they trust the adults around them to make sure their needs/desires are met.
She told Jake she was thirsty and was very specific about what to drink. Water from the faucet, not a water bottle. Orange juice with a little water in it (from the faucet).
I love free kids.
Carmen is now painting several coffee filters so that I can, and I quote, "decorate your whole house with them!"
Jake is used to very *directed* play and instructions, as this is how he was in his earlier years. That's why Carmen is in an environment where she is deeply respected and celebrated!
We walked to the garden to harvest a zucchinni for dinner and only found one as big as a baseball bat! So Carmen picked some tomatoes and beans.
Jake and Carmen went to the swingset and to the pond while I made sweet potato fries. Carmen said they had fun and they played *Kitty*. I asked how one plays *Kitty* and she said, "We chased ourselves and ran around."
Jake lured her to the couch with the promise of reading library books. The couch was covered with their cutting and gluing project, so Jake started clearing it off. Carmen, who asks *why* a lot, asked why he was cleaning it off. Jake said, "Because I like to read on a clean couch." Carmen proclaimed, "Well I like to read on a DIRTY couch!"
The sweet potato fries were *not* a hit with Carmen, and I asked her if she would like something else to eat or drink and she said, "Yes. Plain water."
Now Sam is cleaning Nugget's cage and I asked Carmen if she would take care of Nugget while Sam cleaned her cage and Carmen is VERY excited about that, complete with hopping and applause!!
By the way, Carmen keeps referring to Sam as *that other guy*!! And she is SO drawn to Jake...when I asked if she would take care of Nugget, she automatically turned to Jake and said, "Let's take care of Nugget while that other guy cleans her cage!!"
First Day with Carmen
This post is first of all dedicated to my friend, Gillian ~ unschooling Mom and balloon-joy-creator extraordinaire!
At the conference, she gifted me with exactly what Jake and I needed, without any of us knowing it at the time: a book by her friend about balloon hats! Gillian did a funshop at the conference with balloon hats, inspired by her desire to *give* and *connect* at the conference. I was so touched when she gave me the extra book that she had:
Little did we know that Monday evening, I would be trying to think of a way to transition Carmen from her mother to spending a Joyful day with us. And the answer was not far away: Gillian's gift of BALLOON MADNESS!!!
SO thank you thank you thank you, sweet Gillian. What a blessing in so many ways...
I'd like to share a little background about the amazing connections between my family and Carmen's family, but it's much too complex to find a *little* to share. I know for a fact that some day I am going to write an article about how the Universe has brought the lives of our two families together time and time again...each of us giving and getting exactly what we have needed in the moment we have needed it.
It began years ago when Carmen's madre, Esperanza, followed what was in her heart and created the Fair Trade store in Oneonta, Da'Vida. I wanted a place to sell my felted spirit bags, and to contribute to the community, and so Jake, Sam and I began volunteering our time there.
The blessings have increased a thousand fold since those first days, and here we are with this blessing in front of us now: Carmen is in our lives regularly and Esperanza ~ attachment parent and future unschooling Mama ~ has the only people she truly trusts caring for her child while she teaches at the college.
So here is a glimpse at our first day with Carmen.
Our day began at the Fair Trade store, as it's a central point in all of our lives and Carmen feels at home there. Jake and I arrived first and when Carmen got there, she was very excited to have the opportunity to play with us! We showed her the international photo gallery from the balloon book. Pictures of people from all over the world with balloon hats! It's SO beautiful and she giggled and was excited to make her own!
Good-bye to her Mama, and no trouble with that first transition at all. Just sheer JOY right from the start.
So Jake and I got started pumping up the balloons for Carmen. She LOVED the whole process. The noise, the pumping, the balloon being inflated. We looked through the photos to see what she would like to make and she decided she wanted a giant flower AND a silly hat. So we started on the flower and had a great time.
Well, when one *did* pop, I could see she was a bit shaken. I talked about how it scared *me*, and Jake said that it scared him, too. I also was sensing that she might have been sad about the loss of that balloon. Carmen is completely bi-lingual, so we were counting the petals we had on her flower in Spanish and when we got to *cinco* (five), she decided to name one of the petals *Cincy*. So when one popped, I understood that it might be the loss of something that she had named and grown to love that might be difficult.
Needing a change after time just FLEW with balloon-play, Jake and I suggested we get outside and walk to the library to read books and play with the puppets. Jake helped her get her coat on and I sort of stepped to the side to allow *their* relationship to strengthen. Carmen sweetly trusted Jake with EVERYthing. Putting on her shoes and socks and coat, holding her hand as they walked and crossed the street. It was beautiful. I loved listening to their conversations.
The library time was perfect because Jake and Carmen played for so long and I had a chance to find books for my children's library program, which will be starting up on the 24th. And I also had a chance to browse knitting books, and guitar music books...something that I don't usually take the time to do because we are in a rush to get other things done.
After I had gathered two huge piles of books to check out and Jake and Carmen had read numerous books together, we all decided to go to the coffee shop and have a bagel.
And then it was back to Da'Vida, because I had shown Carmen the photos I had taken of her while we were in the bagel shop and she saw the balloon photos and wanted to get back to her balloons!
I needed to do a couple of things downtown, so Jake and Carmen broke out the markers and paper and spent time drawing.
Carmen's papa came at 1:45, and he asked Carmen if she was ready to go. She answered, "Ut uh." I had told her that she would be spending the rest of the day with her Papa and then in 2 more days, she could come to our house! She was very excited, and they packed up all of the balloons and left, with Carmen's Papa reassuring her that yes, her beautiful balloon creations *would* indeed fit in their car!
Jake felt very satisfied and pleased with his time with Carmen.
And so begins a new chapter in the Universe providing exactly what we need and desire.
All is truly well.
At the conference, she gifted me with exactly what Jake and I needed, without any of us knowing it at the time: a book by her friend about balloon hats! Gillian did a funshop at the conference with balloon hats, inspired by her desire to *give* and *connect* at the conference. I was so touched when she gave me the extra book that she had:
Little did we know that Monday evening, I would be trying to think of a way to transition Carmen from her mother to spending a Joyful day with us. And the answer was not far away: Gillian's gift of BALLOON MADNESS!!!
SO thank you thank you thank you, sweet Gillian. What a blessing in so many ways...
I'd like to share a little background about the amazing connections between my family and Carmen's family, but it's much too complex to find a *little* to share. I know for a fact that some day I am going to write an article about how the Universe has brought the lives of our two families together time and time again...each of us giving and getting exactly what we have needed in the moment we have needed it.
It began years ago when Carmen's madre, Esperanza, followed what was in her heart and created the Fair Trade store in Oneonta, Da'Vida. I wanted a place to sell my felted spirit bags, and to contribute to the community, and so Jake, Sam and I began volunteering our time there.
The blessings have increased a thousand fold since those first days, and here we are with this blessing in front of us now: Carmen is in our lives regularly and Esperanza ~ attachment parent and future unschooling Mama ~ has the only people she truly trusts caring for her child while she teaches at the college.
So here is a glimpse at our first day with Carmen.
Our day began at the Fair Trade store, as it's a central point in all of our lives and Carmen feels at home there. Jake and I arrived first and when Carmen got there, she was very excited to have the opportunity to play with us! We showed her the international photo gallery from the balloon book. Pictures of people from all over the world with balloon hats! It's SO beautiful and she giggled and was excited to make her own!
Good-bye to her Mama, and no trouble with that first transition at all. Just sheer JOY right from the start.
So Jake and I got started pumping up the balloons for Carmen. She LOVED the whole process. The noise, the pumping, the balloon being inflated. We looked through the photos to see what she would like to make and she decided she wanted a giant flower AND a silly hat. So we started on the flower and had a great time.
I talked to her about the sound of the balloons popping, in case they should pop. She assured me that she would be okay with it. I told her that it's loud for me, and sometimes scares me, and she said, "Don't worry. I won't be scared."
Well, when one *did* pop, I could see she was a bit shaken. I talked about how it scared *me*, and Jake said that it scared him, too. I also was sensing that she might have been sad about the loss of that balloon. Carmen is completely bi-lingual, so we were counting the petals we had on her flower in Spanish and when we got to *cinco* (five), she decided to name one of the petals *Cincy*. So when one popped, I understood that it might be the loss of something that she had named and grown to love that might be difficult.
And even though I could clearly see her feeling a bit upset, I could also see her CHOOSING to not let it get in the way of our Joy. She made a conscious CHOICE to not cry or be upset...she chose to reassure *me* that she was fine and didn't want to dwell on it anymore.
And so we walked forward in Joy.
Needing a change after time just FLEW with balloon-play, Jake and I suggested we get outside and walk to the library to read books and play with the puppets. Jake helped her get her coat on and I sort of stepped to the side to allow *their* relationship to strengthen. Carmen sweetly trusted Jake with EVERYthing. Putting on her shoes and socks and coat, holding her hand as they walked and crossed the street. It was beautiful. I loved listening to their conversations.
The library time was perfect because Jake and Carmen played for so long and I had a chance to find books for my children's library program, which will be starting up on the 24th. And I also had a chance to browse knitting books, and guitar music books...something that I don't usually take the time to do because we are in a rush to get other things done.
After I had gathered two huge piles of books to check out and Jake and Carmen had read numerous books together, we all decided to go to the coffee shop and have a bagel.
It's difficult to write this, because the heart and soul of the day was the Joy in being with Carmen every moment. She is SO funny and brilliant and interesting and Jake and I spent so much time just laughing, and letting go of all else in the world, just to be with her in that moment, in her Joy and her Love and Beauty.
After our bagels we went to the art store. Jake bought Carmen some bird stickers.
And then it was back to Da'Vida, because I had shown Carmen the photos I had taken of her while we were in the bagel shop and she saw the balloon photos and wanted to get back to her balloons!
I needed to do a couple of things downtown, so Jake and Carmen broke out the markers and paper and spent time drawing.
Carmen's papa came at 1:45, and he asked Carmen if she was ready to go. She answered, "Ut uh." I had told her that she would be spending the rest of the day with her Papa and then in 2 more days, she could come to our house! She was very excited, and they packed up all of the balloons and left, with Carmen's Papa reassuring her that yes, her beautiful balloon creations *would* indeed fit in their car!
Jake felt very satisfied and pleased with his time with Carmen.
And so begins a new chapter in the Universe providing exactly what we need and desire.
All is truly well.
Jake's New Song
(Originally posted 8/14/07)
Overheard my son singing just now:
"Yeah, yeah...I have a job! I have exactly what I was looking for..."
:)
Exciting things happened this morning!
My friend, a Spanish professor at Hartwick College (she's from Spain), approached me about taking care of my little friend (her daughter), Carmen, for 1/2 day, 2 days a week. I was SOOOO reluctant. Even though I LOVE Carmen (she's my little bilingual friend ~ she's 3 and she's so much like Jake was at that age). I just felt that with my library program, my writing, my conference talks, and everything else...*my* life is already full and I need/want to focus the rest that isn't occupied with *my* stuff on my boys and being with them and walking by them in *their* lives.
So I told her all that...
And she told me that she's just not comfortable with anyone else taking care of her child! She fears disrespect and wants someone who understands and celebrates children.
I was honored, but still...
On the drive home from talking with her at the library, I had a DAWNING! I could shift this over to Jake. Carmen and Jake are SOOOO good together. He just loves her and she loves him.
And just Saturday, our family had a very long, in-depth conversation on the river about Jake's desire for a little sister. Dave and I did what we could to consider it and see it from every angle, but it just didn't feel completely right to us to have another baby now (via adoption of some sort).
And just yesterday, Jake talked at great lengths about his very LONG list he has of needs/desires that require money. He was working on a priority list and trusting that the money would come.
Well...here it is. All that he has wanted wrapped up in one glorious package from the Universe and Unschooling.
A little sister (from whom he can learn Spanish, too) AND money from a real job.
We are all very excited and drop-on-our-knees grateful, as always, for the gifts the Universe provides in COMPLETELY unexpected ways...just because we live following our hearts in gratitude and in Trust.
All is well.
Overheard my son singing just now:
"Yeah, yeah...I have a job! I have exactly what I was looking for..."
:)
Exciting things happened this morning!
My friend, a Spanish professor at Hartwick College (she's from Spain), approached me about taking care of my little friend (her daughter), Carmen, for 1/2 day, 2 days a week. I was SOOOO reluctant. Even though I LOVE Carmen (she's my little bilingual friend ~ she's 3 and she's so much like Jake was at that age). I just felt that with my library program, my writing, my conference talks, and everything else...*my* life is already full and I need/want to focus the rest that isn't occupied with *my* stuff on my boys and being with them and walking by them in *their* lives.
So I told her all that...
And she told me that she's just not comfortable with anyone else taking care of her child! She fears disrespect and wants someone who understands and celebrates children.
I was honored, but still...
On the drive home from talking with her at the library, I had a DAWNING! I could shift this over to Jake. Carmen and Jake are SOOOO good together. He just loves her and she loves him.
And just Saturday, our family had a very long, in-depth conversation on the river about Jake's desire for a little sister. Dave and I did what we could to consider it and see it from every angle, but it just didn't feel completely right to us to have another baby now (via adoption of some sort).
And just yesterday, Jake talked at great lengths about his very LONG list he has of needs/desires that require money. He was working on a priority list and trusting that the money would come.
Well...here it is. All that he has wanted wrapped up in one glorious package from the Universe and Unschooling.
A little sister (from whom he can learn Spanish, too) AND money from a real job.
We are all very excited and drop-on-our-knees grateful, as always, for the gifts the Universe provides in COMPLETELY unexpected ways...just because we live following our hearts in gratitude and in Trust.
All is well.
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