Instilling in Kyle and Owen a deep and wide pride in being Haitian-American has been one of my central parenting goals, from the very beginning, in being an adoptive mama. For so many reasons I want them to grow up being proud to be Haitian. This is something that is right at the surface of my mind all the time. Most days I feel like there is just never enough I can do in this arena. But then, every once in a while, something happens that tells me that we’re on the right track.
This fall Kyle came home from school with this “self-portrait and auto-biography”:
It warmed my heart and soul.
At age 7, Kyle and Owen are proud to have been adopted. And they are proud to be Haitian. Meera, at age 3, is proud to be their sister. I know those things for sure, and these are things that make me very, very, very proud of them.
I love this!
This post warms my heart and soul too! I can’t truly express in words how important this is and how beyond fantastic that you’ve made this one of your central parenting goals (I commend you for that – it’s really hard when it’s lacking) and to see that you’re on the right track – wow! I believe that by doing this at an early age so it’s part of the tapestry of your family it lays down strong foundations for Kyle and Owen as they grow up and hopefully it’ll help them through any challenging times. Thanks for a great post!
– Kate
Nice job, mama!
Your posts on adoption are always so moving, Heather. Thank you. I had to comment because I love what Kyle wrote, especially, “We were so cute.” That’s what he hears you saying over and over about their babyhood. Not how hard it was or how much you worked, which he will begin to process later (I am still processing how hard my mom worked!), but the love in the constant reminders, “you were so cute.”
I love the entire thing. It has been so incredible to watch your boys grow up into such fine little men!
‘We were so cute’ reads so much as ‘we were so loved’
wonderful for you and Braydon Heather, and great language skills by Kyle as well
Yve
I love the posts on adoption because it always gives me so much to think about. Also that is some impressive writing for a 7 year old-so detailed!
That’s awesome. I have Haitian twins too. We are going through some testing behaviors lately, but I know they’ll come out okay at the end. I hope to take them to visit Haiti in a few years and maybe connect with their birthfather (mother died).