Thank you Mr. President

Letter from the President

NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH, 2012

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

As a Nation that believes all children deserve the chance to reach their full potential, we have a fundamental responsibility to ensure each of them grows up knowing the love and protection of a permanent family. During National Adoption Month, we give voice to children who are still waiting for that opportunity, celebrate the bond that unites adoptive parents with their sons and daughters, and recommit to providing every child with the care and security that will nurture their development and well-being.
Later this month, many Americans will also mark National Adoption Day by completing a foster care adoption and embracing a new member of their family. Driven by reasons unique to their households but united by the spirit of compassion that moves all who choose to adopt, these parents will take up our country's most important task -- the work of raising our sons and daughters. As we celebrate the contributions of adoptive parents across our Nation, let us also strive to eliminate discriminatory barriers that would separate foster children from a loving family. Adoptive families come in many forms, and it is essential that all qualified adults have the opportunity to care for a child in need.

My Administration remains committed to helping every child find a loving home. We have partnered with faith-based and community organizations across America to help connect children with adoptive parents, and we continue to work with State, local, and tribal governments to improve child outcomes; enhance safety, permanency, and well-being; and support adoptive families. I was proud to sign the Affordable Care Act and the International Adoption Simplification Act, which have made it easier for families to adopt, as well as the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act, which will help reduce the length of time young children are without families. We have built on those efforts as part of the National Adoption Campaign, which continues to bring adoption and foster care into our national conversation.

Thousands of children living in America hope for the comfort and safety of a loving family. This month, we pay tribute to the dedicated professionals who help make those children's dreams a reality, sharpen our resolve to find a permanent home for every child, and celebrate the stories of all whose lives have been touched by adoption.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2012 as National Adoption Month. I encourage all Americans to observe this month by answering the call to find a permanent and caring family for every child in need, and by supporting the families who care for them.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

BARACK OBAMA

November is National Adoption Month

With it being National Adoption month I hope to do various post about Adoption. I know this year Larimer County is doing it's first ever National Adoption Day Celebration at the court house. It is really exciting how in recent years adoption has been so mainstreamed. I feel so fortunate every day for my son Cy! I believe VERY strongly in adoption/foster care.  

One thing I hope to bring more to light are some things that I found very important and personal to me.  Throughout this month I will highlight some of our struggles and wins. We went through extensive training before Cy came home preparing us for how we might feel, attachment, grieving, etc...However, we weren't really prepared for a toddler. Don't get me wrong as the date continually changed I was aware of his age...just not really a toddler. There wasn't much for resources on Toddler Adoption and the Weavers Craft can freak anyone out. I remember reading information on the Internet saying you shouldn't leave your child for 6 months, don't do this and don't do that. I wanted desperately to do the right thing. I literally freaked out and finally called my social worker crying because I just didn't know what to do and they didn't really know how to help as we were the first group to bring Toddlers home from Korea. Her advice, make sure to take care of you and Jeremy. So we did that. We sat down and wrote out what we wanted to do. I lost some people close to me for my decisions as even though we might make those decisions...it doesn't mean they are easy.  I mean we kept thinking...shit what do we do!

I know my husband and I felt very lost as everything we read was for babies. I even remember thinking...in training they told us to sit on a yoga ball since the babies would be heavy (to protect our backs) and my son is climbing the kitchen cabinets and running all over the place. Frantically flipping through my resource books I was told to read and really finding nothing. Cy was 22 months when he came home, he wasn't this tiny baby. He was this mobile kid with a voice, opinion and he was moving!  I have to be thankful for some friends who had two kids who said if we went from 0 to this we would freak out. I was like thank god I am not crazy because this is insane! Not because we didn't love our son because we were so unprepared.

It is kind of funny but literally around six months it got easier or we just got used to it, who knows. It was literally like stepping outside and everything was crisper. I got it. I am not afraid to share that I went through a little depression or that my family struggled in the beginning. I am not perfect. It wasn't all ice cream and suckers after two weeks. What I feel is important that every adoption is different and I want people to know how you choose to handle the transition doesn't make you a bad person. One piece of advice I can give is to always to what is best for you and your family.

I hope this month to try and post as much information on Toddler Adoption as possible to be a resource for others. Especially now Korean Adoption all children coming home will be toddler or older.

Peace and Love!

Role Models

I will be ever in search of positive role models for my son both Korean and American. What is great is that one of my favorite chefs is both; David Chang - Korean American.  As a foodie I have followed him for years and once we found out we were adopting from Korea I followed him even more. I love checking out his recipes as they are so innovative. I made one for our friends Adrienne and Mark when they came over for dinner, probably not as good as David's but none the less not without effort.

I have to promote his new show coming out soon "The Mind of a Chef" here is a great article recently on the new show! Those of you who follow my blog know my desire for Cy to be a Chef.

Here is a little preview to share of his new show. I am so excited to have another chef to follow and can't wait to suck Cy in!

 

Stocking Stuffers

Being our first Christmas with our son and he is a toddler I am so excited to share with him the whole experience that is Christmas/Winter Solstice! I have already started to shop for stocking stuffers and gifts. Every child is different but here are a few ideas.

1. Black Diamond Spot Headlamp
2. Goggles - for swimming
3. Favorite character coloring book - Thomas or Diego
4. Fun socks
5. My son is loves chocolate so something chocolatey.
6. In our family it is tradition to give to charity...so every year Santa donates a toy in Cy's name. He will not understand it now, but the tradition will keep on and he will grow to understand.
7, Kalidiscope
8. Maraca
9. Mini Etch a Sketch
10. Harmonica
11. Start a tradition of a Christmas book
12. Fun bath toy


These are just ideas I have for this year. Obviously they change every year as your child gets older, but I do love these so far!

Jim lives on...

“A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself-and especially to feel, or not feel. Whatever you happen to be feeling at any moment is fine with them. That's what real love amounts to - letting a person be what he really is.”
― Jim Morrison

I found this quote after a week or so of re-connecting with friends. I loved it! I had such great conversations where I just felt like those connections were meant to happen.  It is funny how true friends are always there no matter where we live or where we are in our lives it is like picking up as if you were never separated.  All of us have taken such very different journeys, becoming these extraordinary women who I can only be so thankful that they are in my life.  Our lives can be so crazy and hectic and it is so nice to sit down and laugh and just be with the people that you are so close too.  Some of my friends have been with me through so much and I with them and through it all we will always be connected on such a deep level. 

A friend of mine I met out here as we were both delegates during the last election with kids and life we had kind of gone our own way and now we are re-connected. She said to me, "I am always here." I loved that because it is so true. No excuses, no pretend...just real.

So this is to all my current friends and my recent conversations these past few weeks with old friends that have brightened up the day. You all along the way have helped to shape me into the woman I am today. I know time, life and distance has separated us and I can only hope that we keep the connections. 

Thank you for always loving me as I have always loved you! In the words of Jim Morrison, as my girls from college can appreciate as we wore out our Doors CD's he always had great words.