Beech Tree News Network

One evening at a monthly family meal at our church, I was sitting at the table with my 4 boys.  The husband was working late that day and so it was up to me to keep everyone under control, which is like trying to herd cats.  Here’s how the meal went:  “Mom!  He’s got more to drink than me!”  Its okay, you can have more.  “Mom! I don’t want salad!”  You eat salad all the time.  “Mom!  I want McDonald’s!”  We are not going to McDonald’s.  “Mom, he still has more to drink than me!”  Then don’t drink so fast!  “Mom!  These kids are embarrassing me!” (This earned my oldest son the “look”).  “Mommy?  Mommy?”  What honey?  “I’ve got to go to the bathroom.”  Did I mention that the majority of this conversation happened within the first 10 minutes of the meal?  

As I was sitting there (but mostly standing) trying to maintain some kind of controlled anarchy, a church member came over to me, put her arm around my shoulder and said to me, “Momma, you have a beautiful family”.  I am unsure what prompted her to say those words to me, but I wonder if it was the look of exasperation on my face.  She went on to say what good boys they were and how proud I must be of them.  I just laughed and asked her if this was being taped!  She assured me there were no cameras but gave me a hug and went on her way.  After she said those words, I stopped and took a moment to fully understand what she was telling me.  

She was absolutely right; they are beautiful and good boys.  My children are the most precious gifts I have ever been given. I realized in that moment that I was looking at a dream that I never thought would come true.  I was thankful for their birth mothers who were wise enough to want their children to have a good life and put their trust in a total stranger to take care of their child.  I knew deep in my heart that my boy’s lives could have turned out much differently and I thanked God that our paths crossed.  Because of my sons, I get to get Mother’s Day cards, priceless pieces of macaroni art, and I have someone to take to see the new Disney and Pixar movies!  I felt ashamed that I was not more appreciative of my children.  Instead of focusing on the negatives of the moment, I should have been cherishing our time together.  

It was then that I decided I did not want perfect children. Instead, I wanted children who were kind, rambunctious, loving, protective, generous, curious, and questioning and who would enjoy every moment of life.  I wanted them to be just the way they were.  

---

C. Denise Lambrianou is the Program Coordinator for Family Enrichment Center-Adoption Resource Program, which is funded in part by a grant from the Cabinet of Health and Family Services, Department of Protection and Permanency and Wendy’s of Bowling Green.  If you would like information about becoming a foster or adoptive family, or you would like to inquire about a featured child, please call (270) 781-6714 x 3 or (866) 842-9032 x 3.

---

About Wayne:  

Wayne (11/99) needs a forever family. He is a survivor who is destined to succeed with the love, support, and help of a family. Wayne is a creature of habit who often has difficulty adjusting to change in his routine. He is very impulsive, but working on this. Wayne enjoys having one-on-one attention and responds to positive attention from adult caregivers. This child is very artistic, imaginative and smart. He loves to read, work puzzles, and play on the computer. Wayne needs an adoptive family who will protect and encourage him. It will take time for him to trust and adjust to a new family, but please do not let this keep you from calling to learn more about adopting this wonderful kid from the Special Needs Adoption Program.