Treasures in Jars...: September 2008

Sunday, September 21, 2008

We belong to a group called AAFCA (Athens Area Families of Chinese Adoption). The group is well organized and offers weekly playgroups, fall picnics, holiday celebrations (Chinese and American), trips to the zoo, the strawberry patch, the park... It's also a great support group for the parents. We help each other through everything from the adoption paperwork, to the incredibly long wait, to helping one another through issues that adoptive families face. I love it because you can be involved as much or little as you want. There is no pressure, and with having toddlers and teens, sometimes I'm pulled in so many directions that I can't commit to any one thing. The kids love the group activities and just love each other. They are such a great support for one another. They grow up being around other adoptees and so it becomes a norm for them. Since our children don't look like us, it's obvious that they are adopted. This is often pointed out to them by their peers immediately. I remember being on the playground at Chick Fil et and a little girl walked up to Ellie and said, "Where's your mommy or daddy?" Ellie pointed to me. The little girl said, "She can't be your mommy, she doesn't look like you!" Ellie confidently said, "Yeah, that's cause I was adopted from China." The little girl said, "Oh, I know somebody that was adopted!" Then she turned to her friend and said, "Hey, that's her mommy, but they don't look alike because she was adopted." It was all just a matter of facts, no judgement. The other little girl said, "Cool" and they all went off and played together. I finally exhaled and then looked over at that little girl's father who looked like he had been holding his breath too. We just smiled in relief and shrugged at each other.
Through the AAFCA we were introduced to a program that some of the UGA students began called AMP (Asian Mentoring Program). These college students each mentor a child. Ellie's mentor is Fei and Emma's mentor is Ray. They hold festivals and all kinds of cultural events. Sometimes they are group events and sometimes it's just one on one time with their mentors. The mentors are amazing and pour their hearts into this program. It's wonderful for the kids because they learn all about their heritage, culture and language. The students are great role models too! I'll post some pictures from the Moon Festival they recently put on for the kids.