It Takes a Village

Ok, I know it is a cliche, but Lori's recent post reminded me that I wanted to post about something. And, yes, it is about the village raising the child. Well, sort of. Here's the thing - lately I've noticed that while I'm out with Micah, some people will go out of their way to help me, while others will ignore completely that I might need a hand, even if they are standing right next to me. Granted, these are people that I don't know, but I think our culture has really lost it's ability to lend a helping hand, literally.

Case in point. This is a lame example, but bear with me. We were at Borders the other day and I had not brought the stroller with me, so I'm carrying Micah and three books. Standing in line, Micah was crabbing and reached out toward the gift cards and proceeded to knock a whole bunch of them on the floor. Great. So, I bend down to pick them up (still holding baby and books) and notice that two women are standing behind me and staring at me picking them up. I figured they were about to bend down and help me when I noticed the woman directly behind me begin to inch up, as if to take my spot in line!!! The audacity! I was silently fuming and made a point to return to my spot in line (with said crabbing baby in my arms).

Not to say, "I am so great," but if there is someone behind me in line with a babe who is obviously unhappy, I will offer for them to go ahead - I know how frustrating it can be to have a little crabber in your arms - they don't understand waiting in line. And, obviously if their little one knocks stuff over, I would bend down to help. (You would too- right?) So, to think that this woman would not only decide not to help, but to get ahead of me in line... I think that's awfully rude!

Second story - we were out renting a movie last weekend and the parking lot was extremely crowded. We got to our car and another car (with two women in the front seats) stopped to wait for our spot. I buckled Mic in, but it takes a little while to make sure he's secure. I got him in and closed the door and then heard the car behind us HONKING at me to hurry up!! I went to the back of our car, put my hands in the air and asked, "Are you kidding me?" They SAW me carrying my baby to the car, but they want me to hurry up? I couldn't believe it.

So, my point of this vent is that we need to be more caring - we need to lend that helping hand - we need to show that we care about ALL of the children of our world, not just our own. Maybe I'm being selfish in thinking this way, but I'm putting it out there (here) anyway.

Whoosh. Glad to get that out. Feel better now... :)
(Oh - and don't miss the post below - lots of good news to be happy about)

P.S. Go sign this petition: http://www.one.org/visitafrica/

Rant

Ok, so things don't usually get to me (or at least I don't write about them on the blog), but this morning's news got to me. They interviewed a woman who has two children through international adoption. One of the questions was why she & her husband chose international adoption and she spoke about how you can "get" a healthy infant... It's the word "get" that bothers me here. I assume this mom did not in any way intend this, but when I hear "get" about a child, it devalues the process, the miracle, of adoption. It sounds like a grocery store, or a good bargain. I am sure this mom loves her babies, and I am not really blaming her - it is really that there is a lack of good language to use about adoption. I mean, they call it "gotcha day" after all. (I'm not particularly fond of that either, but again don't blame people for using it - it is part of the adoption lexicon.) Am I alone in this bothering me? The idea of "getting" a child? What do you say when referring to how your child came to you?

I do have to give this mom credit though - the interviewer asked her what her response would be to people who say that there are so many kids who need homes here - why didn't she adopt domestically? She said, "Well, adopt them!" She went on to say that they had tried domestic, but it didn't work out, but I liked her bold answer.