Three Things About Which I Cannot Stop Musing Over The Weekend Thus Far

1. Let’s get the touchy one over with first: remember the Top Ten Annoying Things People Say To Adoptive Parents That, Even Though They Mean Well, Drive Adoptive Parents Up A Tree? Well, an eleventh one, one that actually should’ve made the list but was inadvertently omitted, reared its ugly head a couple of times early last week. Permit me to address it here:

In the United States (and certainly in our situation), birthmothers do not “become rich off of adoption fees.” The considerable fee paid by adoptive parents is applied to adoption agency costs, payments for the services of adoption lawyers, court fees, and other costs associated with the facilitation of the adoption process. Birthmothers do not receive a dime of the money, as the buying and selling of children is highly illegal. Furthermore, the inherent implication that my child is a commodity, is, to put it mildly, hurtful.

2. Secondly, on a completely unrelated (and much happier) note, last night Marcus and I went to hang out (or “lime,” as we say in Trinidad) over at the home of some friends. It was the first time in the six months we’ve been in Trinidad that we limed with friends without Girlie-girl. Can I tell you how excited I was about this? I mean, while Marcus and I are pretty good about scheduling frequent “date nights,” this was the first night I had been out and socialized with a group of other adults in a VERY. LONG. TIME. I went out and bought a new skirt and shoes for the occasion, I was that excited. We talked politics! And travel! And current events! And not once did I have to change a dirty diaper, or respond to “Mummy!!! Mummy!!!! MUMMY!!!” during the entire evening!

Well, anyway, I thought it was a big deal.

3. And finally, today my cousin Jason came over with his beautiful wife and baby. I’m the oldest of the cousins on my mother’s side of my family, while Jason is the youngest, by 8 years. Notwithstanding our age difference, at one time Jason and I were quite close, having practically lived together for 2 years of our childhood with our grandparents. Today was the first time we’d seen each other since we had each married and become parents, so we pretty much spent the entire afternoon staring at each other and laughing to ourselves. I mean, okay, even I admit the concept of me as a mom is pretty damned funny, but little Jason as a dad? Come ON!

And incidentally, Jason’s 6-month-old son, Jamal, sets new standards of choonkocity, even given the little rug burn on his nose:

Even Alex couldn’t get enough (much to Jamal’s considerable consternation).

Comments

[missbanshee]

Well bowl me over with a feather, your extended family is just as gorgeous as your immediate family. Quel Surprise. Honestly, Karen, I need to get an auto-response that says something like "OMG, Karen, Marcus, Alex, and everyone they are related to are the most gorgeous EVAH" so I can just clickity click instead of responding. JUST KIDDING! How I love love love my Chookooloonks fix every day!

[dave / higher powered]

OK. Time to get all the extended fanily together for a day at Maracas Bay. With palm trees in the background. There's a picture op for you.

[Ruth]

Oh my. Jamals is so cute he makes my ovaries hurt. What a doll boy.

[tanyetta]

Jamal is tooooooooooooo cute. OH MY goodness. I love the gummy smiles all day long.

[MrsDoF]

Ahww, sweet innocent baby kisses for the cousins. Just beautiful.

[christina]

i know this might come out wrong but when I started reading this I didnt know Alex was adopted I mean she totally has your eyes I wouldnt have know if you didnt mentioned it.

[Chookooloonks]

Christina --

It didn't come out wrong. :o)

K.

[karla]

Oh! The cuteness. I could eat them both up with a spoon!

[halloweenlover]

I love the one of Alex kissing Jamal!!!

Adorable! He does look confused, though!