Ukraine Adoption

Pre-teen and Pre-school

So my 11-year-old son barely answers a question and when he does, it's with one word. My nearly 4-year-old daughter from Ukraine won't stop talking.

My son is eating constantly, like a full bowl of something right after dinner. My daughter eats like a bird and only wants popsicles and snacks.

My son doesn't like to be dragged out to the pharmacy, church, grocery stores, or most any place that doesn't have the word "toys" or "games" or "computer" in it. My daughter rushes to put on her coat, her purse, her shoes and her lipstick at even the slightest suggestion that we're going someplace. Any place. Doesn't matter. But we're going, and sometimes she brings me my purse and says, "C'mon, let's go!"

Now my friends with older children laugh at me and shake their heads knowlingly when I share my stories about the chaos and inconsistencies that is my life with two kids--one pre-teen and one pre-school.

Sometimes they say words meant to reassure and comfort me, like, "It only gets worse. Wait til they drive."

Now my son is very quiet, you have to look in the backseat to remember that he is riding along with you. My daughter, well, just imagine the opposite. My son feels it's his "job" as a big brother to make her scream, squeal, yell, laugh loudly and whine. He is good at his job, especially when: I'm driving; I'm on the phone; I'm in line at the store; I'm trying to get Tara to sleep at night; and/or I'm doing anything that requires a smidgen of concentration, like making sandwiches for school lunches.

I'm fairly certain that my Mom is smiling by now if she is reading this. She raised five of us. When I was telling my friend the other day that my house is loud and crazy now with two kids, she said: "Imagine our moms. They had so many more!"

Indeed, I'm not complaining. These kids are awesome. They are well-adjusted, smart, funny and sweet. I guess I'm the one that is still trying to adjust!