flying a "kipe"

The kids came home from a stay at the fitness center child care room with a chick to cut out and attach an egg with paper fasteners. They worked on it diligently, and the next thing I knew, Zhong-Lin was attaching a string and calling it a "kipe." I don't know where it came from, but he was convinced he was gonna fly this chick. He found a shoestring on the floor and was out the door. The other kids were running around looking for suitable string while I was thinking, "Are you crazy? it's not a kite."



Thankfully, I didn't say it out loud because they were happy and active and running in and out, not hurting anything. They even came in and added wings because there wasn't enough wind.

After half an hour of watching this, I was reminded of a favorite parenting book, What Do You Really Want for your Kids? by Wayne Dyer. He writes of all the things we want for our kids...for them to be risk-takers, to value themselves, to be creative, etc and how mostly, it's us that holds them back. We are the ones who tell them it can't be done, or it's silly, or a waste of time. What I love about the book is how he goes through our adult behaviors that counter the very thing that we want for our kids...and then talks about how we change ourselves. So, reminder to self: let children believe and try and explore...don't be the voice that stops their belief in their abilities.

how will you measure your life?

This is something that has been percolating in my mind over a period of time. Conversations with complete strangers on the train to here and there has brought it back to me again and again...the reasons we chose to adopt...the feelings I have about parenting and family and what it means in the larger picture of life.


I read How Will You Measure Your Life? by Clayton Christensen on the way back from my overnight stay in Hong Kong (the visa hop)and he reiterated what I already feel and believe. There are things that matter most...and do our actions and time reflect what matters most to us?


I met an obviously well-educated affluent Taiwanese couple who had lived in Australia for 40 years and we talked about why we were in Taiwan...adoption...same conversation with numerous others-a computer science professor on the train to Taichung, various parents, strangers and friends alike and the universal refrain tends to be, "Raising a child is so expensive." And I am sure there are other opinions about why having a child (or more than one) is something to be deeply hesitant and cautious about...opinions that align with beliefs and perspectives about priorities.
source: http://djcadchina.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/one-child-policy-in-china-past-present-and-future/

The bottom line for me is a DEEP gratitude for an understanding of how important family is. I know that parenting, however challenging or time consuming (or satisfying for that matter) is a central part of Heavenly Father's plan. Children need love and time and the opportunity to thrive and that does mean sacrifice on the part of those who raise them. That is the bottom line, and I can't imagine choosing other than this.



(this picture was added after we all came home from Taiwan...all five!!)