August 26, 2007
SORRY! I know! It’s been forever. I haven’t abandoned ship. I’ve just been overwhelmed, out of town or in a funk, depending on the day.
But I’m back! Get back a people, get back a HIT ME (little James Brown for ya there. You’re welcome)
Traveling to Ethiopia has been on my mind as of late. Basically, we are in complete denial that we are traveling to a Third World Country in as little as 6 months (if things go as planned - but realistically, it will be in 7-8 months I suppose) and I have been on a kick lately where I want AS MANY people AS POSSIBLE to come with us.
So this is my deal. I really do want as many family members and friends as possible to come. This excludes our three year old. I would rather travel with 65 Gollum clones than travel to Ethiopia with Delaney. The Gollum clones could argue with themselves, speak in raspy plural third person and try to steal my jewelry the whole time and I would STILL rather travel with them than Delaney. Our child, although she’ll argue that she’s one of the adults, is VERY particular about how she likes things. It sort of makes for me feeling like I’m serving a rock star rather than parenting a three year old, but nevertheless, I pick my battles and avoid meltdowns wherever possible so if that means she needs her chocolate milk in a RED cup by her RED plate on her RED blanket - so be it. But it doesn’t make well for ….. international travel to a third world country.
So Delaney’s out. But I would like darn near EVERYONE else to be IN. And my main reason is that I would like them there to experience the culture and actually SEE the country that our kids will come from. I think it will help everyone appreciate the history behind these kids and become a little more involved with this whole big crazy adoption thing, to learn more and maybe understand more. But mostly I just want help on the airplane.
But this is my other deal. What about traveling with a teenager? Have you ever traveled internationally with a teenager before? And if so, was the teenager as big of a cry baby as my brother Burke? My 16 year old, punk brother Burke?
My concern with Burke lies here. He could possibly be whinier and cryier than the three year old that we are vowing to leave home due to the foreseeable future of whining and crying on this journey across the world. The FOOD will be different, the SMELLS will be different, the AIR will be different, the TIME CHANGE will be different, the TOILETS AND BEDS AND SHOWERS AND ROOMS will be SO different than anything he has ever experienced and I have a big fat feeling that he’ll be a big fat baby about all of it.
Or, you know, he could totally man up and be great. It’s a risk. And it’s one that I remind him of EVERY time I see him lately. This is how it goes:
Me: “Burke, I’m concerned about you coming to Africa with us”
Burke: “……. what?”
Me: “I said, I’m CONCERNED about you coming to Africa with us”
Burke: “No, Ya, I’m coming to Africa with you guys”
Me: “No, I know you say you are coming to Africa with us, but I’m concerned about you coming”
Burke: “……. what?”
Me: “Ask me why I’m concerned about you coming to Africa with us.”
Burke: “…….. huh? what? why?”
Me: “I’m concerned because it’s going to be 30 hours of travel each way and the food and weather and accommodations are going to be really different for you.”
Burke: “…………………………..” (eating or checking his myspace or texting or watching tv or being TOTALLY distracted by something else)
Me: “I think you’re going to be a big fat baby about going and you’ll hate it and instead of us having 2 new babies in Africa, we’ll have 2 new babies and a third, slightly taller, slightly stinkier, English speaking baby to deal with too.”
Burke: “……..whatever. It’s cool Jamie, It’s cool.”
I really get through to him. He respects me and my abundance of wisdom.
But my other deal is that I really want Burke to come. I think it would be life changing and amazing for him to come. I remember the first time that I saw extreme poverty and horrible living conditions, I was about his age, and I’ll never forget it. It changed my perspective on a lot. So I want him to come for that reason too. It would be really good for him and in the end, I think he would be glad he went. But I also don’t want to be all “SO BURKE, ARE YOU AMAZED YET? HAS YOUR PERSPECTIVE CHANGED YET? HOW ARE YOU FEELING BURKE, NOW? DO YOU APPRECIATE YOUR LIFE NOW? LOOK BURKE, LEARN A LESSON RIGHT NOW.” That’s annoying.
So, there’s my deal in a nutshell. I want family and friends there, but I’m concerned about my punk brother coming. And I know it’s unrealistic to expect people to come, but I at least want them to know their invited.
And I also know that there will be quiet times when just Mike and I want to be alone with the kids. I’m not concerned about this. Mainly because I’ll be all “Hey family and friends, we would like some alone time with our kids” and we have the type of family and friends that would be great with that.
Aaaaahhhhhh, it’s good to be back. I missed you guys.
Love,
Jamie
Posted by Jamie @ 2:08 am • adoption schmaloption, my crazy family
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August 26th, 2007 at 8:19 am, dcrmom Says:
Girl. If you don’t get on over here and post more often, I’m gonna have go fly out to Mormon Country and drag your skinny, perky, not-30-years-old-yet-and-sagging little butt to your computer and stand over you while you type. Do you want that? Because I don’t think you do. So post at least once a week. Twice would be better. ‘K?
Haha, just kidding. You obviously have A LOT going on. Good for you for not letting your blog run your life. Unlike myself. Ha.
So this Ethiopia thing is out of control. I can’t imagine. And I’m so excited for you guys. And for punk Burke. I hope it changes his life in a good way.
How old will your kids be when you get them? Do you know what sex they are or will be? Are they already assigned to you, or are they not born yet?
August 26th, 2007 at 10:48 am, Chandra Says:
Welcome back Jamie :). I know all about the funky days! PMS this past week and total B*$%#.
You have a lot on your mind huh? Well about your brother, you know him better than anyone else, but I imagine that is a pretty life changing event so I think it will have the impact on him that you are hoping for. Do you know how many sibling groups are ahead of you? With sibs there isn’t a lot of prediction huh? Good luck with all your decisions. It’s great to see you back! Did you have fun in California? Enjoy your Sunday
Chatter
August 26th, 2007 at 1:01 pm, June Cutoff Cash Says:
That was the best impression of a 16-year-old boy ever. Were we that frustrating at 16?
I am so glad you blobbed at us again. I was bored silly without your funny self.
August 26th, 2007 at 5:15 pm, Emily Says:
Welcome back sister! Take the boy to Africa- it will probably do more good than harm, and you could always “need” more of that special time with the kids if he is bugging you:)
August 26th, 2007 at 6:28 pm, My Minivan Is Faster Than Yours Says:
So glad you’re back. It was hard holding my breath that long.
If you leave your 3 yo with your brother while you go to Ethiopia, that might change his perspective on a few things, too. Although, she’d probably have a myspace account my the time you got back.
August 26th, 2007 at 7:47 pm, Julie Says:
It’s about gosh-darn time you wrote in your blog! I’ve been checking every day. Kidding. Well, kidding about giving you a hard time, not kidding about checking your blog every day.
August 27th, 2007 at 1:19 pm, Audrey Says:
“Uhhh… jamie its like going to be alright. Youre like freakin out. GOSH. (emo hair flip)”
Burke is a little biotch. Instead of him going I think that his parents (aka mom and dad) should pay for ME to go. Since right now Im not sure if I can… boooo.
August 27th, 2007 at 4:32 pm, starfish Says:
I was wondering where you went….
I sort of know what you mean, I want everyone to come to Colombia when we go for #2, but I’ll be totally pissed off if they don’t completely love it too. I obviously don’t know your brother but I would think it would be a great experience for him that he’ll eventually appreciate.
August 27th, 2007 at 8:03 pm, Tracey Says:
Your brother sounds like my ex-boyfriend. I feel your pain. Here is my suggestion: Get a bunch of t-shirts that say, “no whining - you ahve been warned!” Then, every time he whines, as he surely will, you have permission to slap him senseless. He’ll probably get with the program pretty quickly.
August 27th, 2007 at 8:23 pm, erinthebeekeeper Says:
I want to go to Africa…..
I’ll have passports in a few weeks. So will the bee…..
But I don’t have no monies.
August 28th, 2007 at 10:54 am, Becca Says:
Yeah, take Burke. My cousin and I were 15 when we went to Israel, with an overnight layover in Germany. It was hard to travel that long, but kids these days have so much to keep them occupied on a plane… it will be easier. There will be weird food and other weirdness, but he can take it. Warn him in advance, and threaten to destroy his computer/iPod/cell/whatever he loves most if he doesn’t cooperate. I bet it will be good for all involved. Can’t wait to hear as you guys progress.
August 29th, 2007 at 12:07 pm, Shannon Says:
Yeah, I totally agree about taking him. Just tune out the whining if he does. It is too priceless of an experience for him to miss out on. I am cracking up about this:
SO BURKE, ARE YOU AMAZED YET? HAS YOUR PERSPECTIVE CHANGED YET? HOW ARE YOU FEELING BURKE, NOW? DO YOU APPRECIATE YOUR LIFE NOW? LOOK BURKE, LEARN A LESSON RIGHT NOW.” Because I am afraid that is how I am going to be with M. in Vietnam and she is only 6, LOL. Yes, that would be totally annoying.
August 31st, 2007 at 4:29 am, Tatjana Says:
Hi Jamie! I just found your blog and loved it - I’m currently enjoying the first day of a long week-end, hanging out in pyjamas pre-breakfast, reading blogs … yum! Anyway, hi from a fellow Ethiopian adopter
October 13th, 2007 at 6:23 am, Ethiopia » Blog Archives » [ANC Qualifiers] - Round 5 preview… Says:
[...] Travel - do ya dig it?SORRY! I know! It’s been forever. I haven’t abandoned ship. I’ve just been overwhelmed, out of town or in a funk, depending on the day. But I’m back! Get back a people, get back a HIT ME (little James Brown for ya there. You’re welcome) … [...]
October 15th, 2007 at 5:19 am, Ethiopia » Blog Archives » Travel - do ya dig it? Says:
[...] Travel - do ya dig it?SORRY! I know! It’s been forever. I haven’t abandoned ship. I’ve just been overwhelmed, out of town or in a funk, depending on the day. But I’m back! Get back a people, get back a HIT ME (little James Brown for ya there. You’re welcome) … [...]