Tres Mas

 So, I usually talk about the connections I have with my kids. But what I tend to not mention is the struggles I have connecting with some kids. Maybe I fear that I will be judged if I say I do not love all my daughters the same. I still love each and every one, but some more and very differently than others. Similarly, although I enjoy being around each of them, I enjoy the company of some more than others. I feared that admitting that makes me a bad mom. But I don't think it does; instead, I think it makes me a better mom because it makes me pray more for them, for us.

So, this is a blog about a few of these kids.


The first is Rebekah: Rebekah loves to be taken out of the house, to be shown new things. I love this, and I love taking her on walks--except that she will scream and cry when it's time to go back into the house. Every. Stinking. Time. Rebekah strongly desires to be accepted. She imitates all of her sisters and myself. (Actually, side note here: one of the older girls informed me that all my original 8 act like me now!) I have always been very independent and so struggle with watching Rebekah try to fit in. Over the months, she has learned to slowly and gradually be her own person, and I have enjoyed watching that transformation. I love her, but it's taken me some time to learn to enjoy her or love her so much. But God has clearly informed me that she needs love, too. The fact that her online name is the same as my best friend's is a reminder in itself to love her; but my first real connection with her was when my guy told me he sponsored her. Suddenly, Rebekah became not just one of my 8, but in my mind, became "his girl" and consequently someone very special to me; I had just needed the reminder that she was special, too.

Alesa (pictured in middle) and Rachel are other challenges for me. Both are teenagers, and, well.... I am 22, and my time fostering has made it very clear that I am not cut out to work with anyone in the stages of puberty. Alesa is a funny, quirky kid, and teaching anyone to ride a bike with training wheels has never been more difficult or funny. A few weeks back, I burned some of my Bollywood tunes onto a CD, and Alesa could dance to it all day long if I could tolerate listening to “Sheila Ki Jawani” and “Teri Meri” that long. She will come to my door at least thrice a day and say with a huge grin, "Yescuse me, sister!" before she asks to turn the music on or volume up.


Rachel... whew, Rachel. She's a toughie for me. She recently had her left leg amputated, and I got to be the mean therapist who brings tears as I enforce her exercises. Rachel has built a wall around herself to try to keep from getting hurt, and her smiley, careless, and perpetually teasing attitude keeps me from getting to know her, from getting too close. It's hard for me to interact with her anyway, as she avoids my conversation and affection, but having primarily "mean mom" interactions to keep her leg healthy is pretty rough on our relationship.  Currently, she’s in Hyderabad hopefully receiving her new prosthetic leg! Here's a pic I stole from another volunteer of Rachel with the new babies in our new Hyderabad home! I think it's adorable. :)

So, any and all prayers for my relationships with these girls are appreciated. Moreso, please pray that the next foster mom(s) who come(s) through may have a heart that is especially drawn to Alesa and Rachel.