You want to know the biggest difference between teens and tweens? Take a look at my friend Cindy's blog and the smiling faces of her tweens. Then check out this:
I have some photos where Alesia looks OK and Mike is sticking his tongue out, too.
Cindy said her life is too boring to write about. I disagree. Although I like to drop names and I often try to be funny here, in truth when I read a blog I usually prefer the little moments when things are interesting on a purely personal level to the big dramatic statements or over-reaching for the sake of humor.
Alesia was picked up by a friend yesterday and spent the entire afternoon and early evening at their house. Mother was annoyed by it. I was just irritated because she kept telling me she was staying longer and longer, which made it hard for me to plan. We constantly struggle with defining boundaries, since she's 19 and in college but still living at home.
So last night at 7:30 I'm standing at the stove in a bathrobe cooking dinner, and in she bounces, all smiles, and gives me a big hug - a rare thing, that hug. She has mostly been grouchy lately. The big hug was a welcome surprise. I don't know what to attribute it to, other than perhaps she just needed to hang out with friends for a change. She's working hard to get used to school.
Michael's fourth post placement visit is coming up. I already called for the social worker appointment. With Alesia, I only had to send I think 3 or 4 post-placement reports to Russia. With Michael, Kazakhstan wants them until he is 18. Next year I have to just write them up myself and attach photos. (The reports want to know is he healthy, what does he weigh and how much he has grown, how he is doing in school, does he do outside activities or sports, etc.) That's no trouble for me, since I am a writer and I know what they're looking for, but I feel sorry for folks who don't feel comfortable writing. Yet, if you don't send them the governments can and will halt adoptions. It happened in Ukraine a few years ago, throwing many families into turmoil.
Michael's best friend Denis is 13 or 14 and has a younger brother Kolya, who is about 8 years old. Both are in the orphanage where Michael was, which is a decent place, as orphanages go. They need a new sponsor, or someone to contribute to Antares so they can go on outings and things, but I cannot afford it right now. Heck, if I could afford it I'd adopt them both. It's just not possible with me not working full-time though. I am asking folks who might be interested in sponsoring them to let me know, or contact Katrina at Antares [[email protected]]. Unlike most programs, Antares doesn't require you to send a set amount every month. They do outings for the kids several times a year, and sometimes set up little birthday parties and/or holiday gatherings, and ask for contributions, that's it. There is an outing planned to a cafe in February and I am trying to figure out a way to raise the funds to get Denis and Kolya and my little sponsored girl, Sasha, there. The cost is $35 per child - they have to rent a vehicle and pay someone, plus pay for the child's meal, which is why it's so much. I am struggling to pay bills, still, since I am working only part time. If you'd like to contribute to that, or sponsor the boys, let me know. You can use PayPal. If you'd like to see more, check out this link [I hope it works] to the Antares Facebook page.
I have heard orphanages described as "prison for children" and that's often accurate, unfortunately. This is a photo of the orphanage, taken in March 2007. It looks pretty much the same now, except I bet there's more snow since it's January. The kids rarely get to go anywere. School is done at the orphanage. Many children never have any contact with family or the outside world. They leave there totally unprepared. Antares helps them feel like there's someone out there who really cares. They also help the older ones after they leave the orphanage and are struggling to deal with school or find work.
This is Kolya. I couldn't find a good photo of Denis, but Michael adored him and he's a good boy.
I look at Michael now and I see a young man, not a little boy any more. It's startling.Below, in a bliny cafe in Petropavlovsk in spring 2007.
Above, a few weeks ago.
Mike has had issues with his skin for a while now, and it's doubly embarrassing because he's a bit older than the other 7th graders, at 14. His voice has dropped, too. However, I have my friend Stephanie to thank for introducing me to the amazing products on this site, Goat Milk stuff. Michael has been washing his face every day for more than a week with a tea tree bar and it's made a big difference. His face is much clearer now. I know, you're thinking it's too expensive, but it's not. It's a BIG bar, and a tiny bit makes a lot of lather. We've tried every acne product on the market, and this one WORKS. I was willing to try anything. These goat milk products are very pure, and it's a family business. So I urge you to check them out. (I am not getting paid or anything either, BTW, I just genuinely like their products.)
Speaking of Stephanie, she is in the last week of her fundraiser to help her and Warren pay for her newest adoptions, 3 special needs kids from Bulgaria. If you're looking for a great gift idea for kids, you've got to check out the hooded towels she's offering. If I had little kids I would buy these in a heartbeat. I had never seen hooded towels for kids until I saw these, but what a great gift idea. Mike will still throw his wet towel over the bedpost sometimes if I don't fuss at him.
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LIFE ON A FARM IN WWII
My mother has been working on a blog post now for a good while, and I am delighted to post a link to it. I am very proud of her for writing it. There was very little editing needed.
