A Website for Moms
I’m really open about our family, adoption journey, and my love for my kids. I’ve even written and published several articles on this site. I’m very tolerant of questions, even from strangers who mean well or simply are curious. I have amazing patience, usually. And then there are times…
Does anyone else have a family of special circumstances? Adoption? Inter-racial? Disabilities? If you do, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. That day when a question just hits you wrong. Maybe you sense something off. Maybe a stranger approaches you during a family fun day for which you paid a ton of money for admission, but sucked it up in the name of family fun, only to ask you one more time something very personal when you’d rather wave and encourage your child spinning out of control on a ride she just mustered the courage to try?
This person approached me wanting to share her family story, which I could relate to. Again, I’m so used to this. When we’re not in our home community, it’s almost a sure bet that I’ll get approached. While I’m happy to talk about my kids and help other people understand the reasons for our decisions, please respect the fact that my kids can hear you and/or are in need of my attention too.
photo credit: ruthieonart
The Chinese New Year shares our American (Valentine’s) holiday this year. As always, we will celebrate the CNY again this year with our children. We are having a large Chinese New Year celebration at our Chinese restaurant in town. They are designating one large back room to all those in attendance, which is up to over 35 people. Many of our International adoptive families in the area are invited, so it will be very fun.
So, what do we do?
Celebrate: It’s the new year and many new families have been formed by adoption. We celebrate all new family additions; biological and adoptive since we last gathered.
Play: The kids play, laugh, and have a ton of fun. We often have fun crafts for them to do at the tables.
Outfits: Many of us have beautiful Chinese silk outfits and other items that we get to wear. The array of colors and styles is so fun to see.
Pictures: It is always a “scrapbookers” dream to have a yearly event to photograph and journal.
Oranges and Dumplings: It is Chinese tradition to have oranges on the table for good fortune. Dumplings are also a food served at the Chinese New Year, and my kids LOVE dumplings. See my recipe for making Chinese Dumplings at home here.
Red Envelopes: Each year children receive “red envelopes” with coins in them to celebrate the new year. It is similar to Valentines cards and treats.
Decorations: We will often decorate, using traditional red and gold colors.
Learn: Our Chinese friends are so helpful and willing to continue to teach us about the Chinese culture. We learn a lot about traditions, families, and geographical locations/customs. Many of our kids take Chinese language lessons and have an opportunity to speak Mandarin.
Food: Of course, we eat plenty of great food and hot tea.
So there you have it; I wish we knew someone who did some traditional firecrackers or Dragon dances, etc. but we will have a fun time anyway.
If you live around the Hutchinson, MN area and would like to be included, send me an email. We’ve tried to contact as many people as possible, but fear we may have missed a few.
November is National Adoption month, and it holds an extra special place in our hearts. Not only have we adopted twice, but both adoptions were in November! Not only were both adoptions in November, but they were almost exactly four years apart.
Yesterday and today we celebrate “Gotcha Days” for our daughters. It is a special time when we reconnect with those who shared in our joy on those special days, recount the wonderful stories and memories to our daughters, and celebrate our family. In this picture, you see a convergence of over three years of waiting and tears, 30 hours of traveling, and a lifetime of dreams materializing as I touch my baby for the first time and take her out of the hands of a nanny. Gotcha Day is like no other experience in the world.
If you hear someone say they are celebrating their “Gotcha Day” or “Adoption” day, remember this is as special as giving birth to a child. Wish them a very blessed day.
It seems like yesterday we were in China meeting you for the first time. I can’t believe almost ten months have passed already. In the short time you’ve been here, you’ve learned to crawl, walk, and talk. You’ve learned to trust both your mom and dad, as well as rely on your sisters for endless entertainment and fulfillment of your every wish. When you smile, you make all of us stop what we are doing to watch your face light up. You laugh a lot, complain little, and can entertain yourself for a long time. Your nature is curious, independent, and easy-going.
Bean, you are such a blessing in our lives. I am so lucky to be your mommy. It makes me sad to know your other mommy is somewhere else, wondering if you are ok; if you’re happy; if you’re loved. I pray that somehow God can bring her peace in her heart. I also hope that through my writing, relationships, and friends, I can help more people open their hearts to adoption and know the special mommy-baby bond like the one I have with you; My little “Bean”.
I'm Beth Gasser, also known as "Confessions of a Mom" and "ConfessionsMom". This is my playground for what I love; blogging, saving money, having fun, parenting, cooking up fun recipes, and writing about everything under the sun. My daytime fun is at Vivid Image, Inc. where I'm a Social Media Consultant and small business brand advocate for our clients.
