Growing up

Our kids are growing up differently than expected.

In Ukraine I resigned myself to the fact that they loved to eat fish and at some point in life their Russian would be better than mine.  It became less important that their childhoods didn’t look like mine.  They thrived while living in Ukraine.

Then we had Polly and moved back to the States and now they are into High School Musical 3 and Dancing with the Stars.  They ask for frozen pizza for dinner.  I resign myself to the fact that their childhood doesn’t look like mine even in Chicago.

Last night Elaina found a photo album of our last six weeks in Ukraine before we moved back to the States.  We took turns staring at photos of family and friends.  We tenderly touched the pictures; faces, hair, hands.  And I started to resign myself to the fact that, for now, their childhood experience would not include Ukraine.

It made me sad.

But the girls are growing up, in spite of where we live.  Their experiences living different places; Michigan, Kiev, Chicago have only enhanced them as individuals.  They are little girls with big life experience.

Having a sister with Down syndrome has caused them to grow up as well.  They learned quickly that life doesn’ always go as planned.  They learned that people are different but just as important.  In fact, they are crazy about the idea of adding another member to our family who happens to have Down syndrome. 

They are growing up well, thanks be to God.  They are growing out in their understanding of faith and helping others.

That makes me happy.

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