Friday, February 21, 2014

Well, as I have said in our previous adoption journeys at one time or another, the fragile beginnings of attachment and bonding are like a dance. You move close together. You move far apart. Today has been a struggle for Gracie and with Gracie. It was a day of her pushing away and me struggling to find wisdom on how to handle the negative feelings. But we know this time won’t last and brighter times will be ahead!

We visited a beautiful old cathedral and then ended up doing a little shopping in a market area. Very fun for us girls, but I am pretty sure John would have chosen something else if it had been up to him! He is a good sport, and we ended our time with him today eating at a coffee shop across from our hotel. We all had grilled ham and cheese sandwiches and French fries. Tomorrow will be a free day until we meet two other families from our agency for dinner.

One thing I began today that I know will eventually help is to use a sippy cup with milk and hold Grace in my arms and cuddle her before afternoon rest time and at bedtime. I tried it the first time today, and she didn’t resist it. That’s a good start. Adopting older children is sometimes uncomfortable at first in being able to show them affection that they will allow. This is a good way to begin to help her allow me to show her physical affection when she isn’t the one to initiate it. And so the dance begins.