CHINESE CULTURE MAKES A HOUSE CALL

If you've read this blog for a while, chances are you know who Molly is (if not, it's worth it to find out). Every year, Children's Home Society holds a reunion for families who have adopted in China. Of course there are games, food, activities and booths with local links to Chinese culture. But, the big draw is always the Reps who work in China and bring us face to face with our children. Every couple years the agency is able to bring these people to the U.S. and this year we asked if we could host them. Of course we had a special agenda as our good friend Molly was one of the visiting Reps.

Molly has known Clara since she was 10 months old, we keep that relationship alive by sending pkgs., letters and photos back and forth via other traveling adoptive families. The last time Molly was in MN. she was still adjusting to her new found celebrity status among the families she's helped. This time it did my heart good to see her smiling and soaking in the love we all feel toward her. Of course Molly has a job that would guarantee her beloved status no matter how well she did it. But as it happens, Molly quite simply — kicks ass. She loves kids, has a heart of pure gold and the patience of a saint. But what really makes Molly shine is her people smarts, she knows exactly how to read any situation and get the necessary results. Trust me on this, I've seen her in action and there's no one better.

As an adoptive parent, I search out and try to get my kids connections to their birth country but I'm never quite convinced it hits the mark. Enter Molly and Vivian. They stayed with us for 7 days and that short time gave them more culture than I've ever been able to. For an impressionable 5 yr. old who wants "skin like yours, Mommy", Clara had role models who showered her with attention — and just by example, gave her more pride in her heritage than I ever can. For breakfast, my kids insisted on eating rice noodles and broth with chopsticks so they could be like their "A'yi Molly and A'yi Vivi". Clara and Lu both begged to learn more Chinese words, telling me every time I tried to pronounce something "No Mom, thats not right, it's like THIS! You're not Chinese so it's harder for you" And of course they're right.

The girls were very busy with training and with other families lined up to see them, but the little moments my kids could share with them, drinking tea, eating chinese candies, listening to stories, was what gave them a true sense of China. Thank you Molly and Vivi, this was a gift beyond measure and you both have lifelong places in our hearts, and in our home.