Let Me Share...

Daniel and I had a wonderful and interesting experience last night. We are using LDS Family Services for our domestic adoption and there is a 5 week course that adoptive parents are required to take. I was cynical at first about taking classes. After all, I'm a mom to 3 kids. I've adopted before. And I'm just a natural born cynic. So I drank a lot of diet pepper and we went. I understand now what this is all about. One of the weeks we'll be meeting a panel of birth moms to get their perspective. One week is to talk about infertility. And this is a group that can rely on each other through this process. These will be informative and possibly good therapy. So I'm okay with it. Not that you care or anything. But I wanted to share the things we learned last night with you. So that is my preamble.

We arrived at the appointed time with 3 other couples. YOUNG couples. As we all sat down I leaned over to my old, starting to go gray hubby, and said, "We are the oldest ones here!" He just smiled and nodded. We were feeling the pinch. And the wrinkles. And the flab. Then the last couple walked in. Yep! We are the oldest ones there. One of the caseworkers was there as well as an adoptive dad who was there to help present the stuff. He was a little gray around the ears. But he wasn't in our "group". So he doesn't count.

One of the guys asked another if he grew up in *Honolulu. He said no, *Kwai. (*cities have been changed to protect the innocent. And I know Honolulu and Kwai aren't right next to each other, either. But for the sake of this story, pretend that they are. And if you live right by me, you probably get the whole idea of the story. So let's just get back to it. I've got lots to tell!) "We went to such and such school together." The other guy recognized him and they got really friendly. His wife leans over and asks something and he says out loud, "No this is elementary school."

Here is the old people in the room translation..."We still look like we're in 4th grade, so we recognize each other easily."

Then one says, "Yeah, I graduated high school 6 years ago" with a look of "I'm so old" on his face. I said to them all, "We are trying to avoid our 20th high school reunions right now." There was then nervous laughter from the young couples. Oh yeah. We are old and we are, well, old. And we came in a mini van. And I had to have my reading glasses on my head in case we went into the binder for information. Old.

So we get started and they have us go around and introduce ourselves. They have all been married about 2 years. They are all working one, two or three jobs. We, on the other hand have 3 kids and have been married 10 years (which I know isn't that long, but compared, it is!). Then the adoptive dad who is there to teach and my dear hubby get into an argument about who's daughter is the cutest. We win. Have you seen Ruthie?! Yep, we win.

As we went through all the paperwork so we could ask any questions, one of the prospective dads asked, "How do you know if your income is enough to raise a child?" The caseworker said, "If you were to get pregnant and be able to support the baby, then you are okay." I don't know if that answered his question or not. But the seasoned mommy in me blurts out, "Raising kids is very expensive!" I hope they all ignored me.

I feel I need to add here that all of the wives, young and slim and cute, were all dressed in slacks or nice jeans with shoes and socks on. Was it just me, or was it really warm yesterday? I was in capris and a cute t-shirt and bright green flip flops with blue toenail polish. I know they all work and probably just got off work and didn't have time to dress down. I just thought it was hilarious that the 38 year old mother of 3 was in bright green flip flops with blue toenails! They all looked so young and .... professional.

I know we will get to know these young couples. I know we will learn from them. I hope we can help them learn something, too. I will wear my bright green flip flops again. I hope they will start wearing their flip flops. I am sure we will have great experiences over the next 4 classes. When we do things like this and as we go through the paperwork and on line work, we feel more and more sure that this is the right place to be and this is the right time to be there. Yay! We are on our way. And just for your information, Sarajune is our China baby. This baby will be James or Mary. This old lady needs to take a shower and then do some serious wrinkle control. I'll be the one in the bright green flip flops and blue toenails if you are out today!