Fostering Adam

We have had Adam a couple of times.  He is endearing but emotionally draining.  I am so thankful for the wonderful care he had with his foster father.  His foster father loved him and smothered him with attention.  In almost all ways this is a benefit for us as well as for Adam especially in the future but for right now it means that everyday Adam is extremely homesick.  As soon as he is tired he sobs his heart out for his 'papa'.  Unless we read him a book he is unable to stop crying.  When he feels like this I am the only person that he allows to comfort him.  He will gently push others away and tell them 'I want you to move away from me'.  I have been homesick before so I have a lot of sympathy for him BUT my ears and nerves begin to get sore and tired as I listen to him for hours on end. 

On the more positive side, having Adam with us has shown a side of each of my kids that makes my heart smile.  Each of them is sympathetic and patient with Adam.  Even McKenna is anxious to make him feel welcome.  Graeme has turned into a big brother instead of a whiny little boy.  For now, we are team helping this precious little boy together.  I know it will come to an end when we begin to think of him as family and not the 'poor homesick kid'.  I am so thankful for the glimpses of extreme kindness and maturity I see in each one of my children. 

Another pretty amazing thing I have seen is that this 'poor little beaten boy' is not stupid.  He may be blind and clumsy but he is no dummy.  The last time he stayed with us he learned his numbers from 1-10 in English (in 48 hours and he is only three).  This time he is learning to be part of our family by staying at the dinner table during the whole meal.  He is even trying to be part of the conversation.  He will blurt out words that he thinks sound like English.  Politeness is another strong suit for him.  He never forgets to say please or thank-you.  He will even tell people thank-you at inappropriate times.  For example, yesterday while we were praying in a circle at work someone was thanking God and he walked right up to her and put his face under hers and said 'your welcome'.