Early Morning Thoughts

I am going to need a nap by 7am. Tom has an OSHA safety class this morning, and he was as quiet as a mouse. Sidney decided it was time to start the day. It’s not even 6am, and she is stuffing a muffin in her face happily running around, preparing for the days adventures. I am certain this will include building tents out of blankets.  Eli and Sidney are honing their abilities. Eli uses the end of the couch for a wall, furnishes the interior with Sidney’s beloved MoMo (Elmo) chair, and uses her doll stroller to support the side opposite the couch. Eli typically tires of this game while Sidney continues yammering on from the inside, thrilled her brother has created such a fun place to play.

Did I say after 15 months home, we are getting to the really good stuff? So much of what occurred last year was an exercise in trust building. There are still times we see faint glimpses of all she experienced; however her bold personality is taking over.  She is an equal combination of tomboy and girlie girl. She comes in with rocks stuffed in her pockets, only to go upstairs and attempt to change clothes for the fifth time that day. She typically sneaks up, knowing mom will make her put the original outfit back on, and says “SEE!!” It amazes me to see her when a package comes in the mail with clothing. “For me” she says and hugs the piece of clothing to herself.  She is delighted to be given the smallest of things. There is something deep inside which recognizes going without, appreciating everything around her.

Going from not enough to abundance still plays out on occasion. A couple of nights ago, Tom the master of bedtime, went through her familiar routine. Many nights she happily drifts off to sleep after Tom  leaves the room, however  there are a few nights she wants mom. On this particular night, she would not settle down. She doesn’t typically get this upset.  She only wants me nearby.  I finally asked if she was hungry, to which she said yes.  Tom returned with a ziplock of Goldfish crackers, knowing she would never touch them. We put them in the corner of her pack n play by her pillow, and she rolled over and was asleep within minutes.

Morning is typically her grouchy time. I think she must have been very hungry in the morning in the orphanage. Her schedule indicated she did not eat from 7pm to 7am. I know some kids do this all the time, however I wonder if there was no 7pm, and she ultimately ate the last time at 5:30pm. Meal size could have also factored into all of this. Again, this is just a guess according to the bits of information we have. Obviously whatever she got was not enough. For all the indicators we witness of deprivation, there are many more of amazing resilience.

Tom sits in his boring class, I will continue my cleaning. I am attempting to sort through the toys, deciding what exactly if anything Eli needs in his room. We are seeing another phase of heavy reading. He either reads constantly or wants nothing to do with it. Much to my chagrin the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series is his newest favorite. Legos are a constant. This eliminates the collection of trucks and cars he amassed over many years. We live in an old house, so storage is a premium.

OK it is past 6:30am,I think this is a civil hour to start the  day.