Every year on the Sunday before Halloween, our town has a huge Halloween parade. And it's always freezing. This year was no exception! It's a good 2, 2 and half hour parade. Standing out there that long gets COLD! But it's always fun, and we wouldn't miss it. This year, we met up with Misty and Paden and some of their friends. E had a great time and scored lots of candy:)
Last night was E's school Halloween party. She had fun seeing her friends, but was disappointed they did not have music and dancing like they did at last year's party. Instead, this year, instead of a DJ, they had a magician. Even though she said afterwards that the magic show was "boring", she watched it for quite a while and seemed like she was in to it. Still, she was very sad to realize that after the magic show, the party was over, and there was not going to be any music. She was really, really wanting a "disco party." Maybe next year, sweetie...
On Saturay, after soccer, we met up with some friends at the zoo, where they were having trick or treating for the kids. Fun!
On this blog, I very rarely discuss my personal feelings about stuff in the news. But once in a while, something comes up, and I simply cannot keep my mouth shut. The situation with Veronica Brown is one of those times. To put it bluntly, I am just sick about the outcome of this case. It is so wrong that this child was taken from her father. The Capobiancos should have let Veronica go when she was a little baby, the moment they knew that Dusten Brown was contesting the adoption and that he wanted to raise his daughter. Well, they "won", they have Veronica now. But at what cost? I can't imagine how confused and sad this 4 year old little girl must be. Even if she seems smiley and to be adjusting well right now, I do believe at some point, the &$@ will hit the fan. How can it not? Some day, the C's will have to explain to Veronica why they took her from her father. In order to justify their actions and feel like V's legitimate parents, they will most likely have to malign Dusten. "He was a dead beat Dad, he signed his rights away before you were even born", etc. I honestly don't know how these people can live with themselves, knowing that they "got" this child in such an unethical, corrupt manner.
It might surprise you to know I feel this way, since I myself am an adoptive parent. I look at the Veronica case, though, and see this: this child was not available for adoption. She already had a fit parent who was willing and able to raise her. The selfishness and sense of entitlement of the Capobiancos just blows my mind. However, I honestly think that they have a tough road ahead. Veronica spent almost 2 years with her father. There is no going back from that or undoing it. She is not the same child she would would have been if she had been with the C's her entire 4 years. She spent half her short life with Dusten, and formed a close father -daughter relationship with him. Now she is supposed to act like that never happened, and think of Melanie and Matt as her only "Mom" and "Dad?" I don't think so. I just hope they allow Dusten to continue to be part of her life. For Veronica's sake. It would be nice to see them put Veronica's feelings and needs ahead of their own.
Wow. I have never gone this long without blogging! To be honest, I really want to keep this blog going, but I just haven't been feeling motivated to actually sit down and post.
Things are good here. Elizabeth likes school, and being in first grade. She seems to really like her teacher, too. Homework, however is a different story. You know how there are some little kids who get all excited about doing homework because it makes them feel grown up? Yeah, Elizabeth is not one of them. Let's just say that she's not a fan. And in the time she spends arguing, and complaining about having to do it, she could already have had it done. Ugg...
E is playing soccer again this season. This will probably be the last time I sign her up for it, though, because she doesn't really love it. She says she wants to do ice skating again this winter, so I will look into that for her. I will miss her playing soccer, though. I really like watching her games and hanging out with the other parents (Hi Ev!) :)
In other news, I start a new job tomorrow, which I am very excited about!! I've spent the past 5 months in a job that was just...not a good match for me...I think I will just leave it at that. (I never set foot in the state of Maine all Summer, but I'm not bitter...) Anyway, I am looking forward to better things ahead. I will say that this opportunity could not have come soon enough for me. I am excited, but a little nervous too. This is my second job change in a year, and I just want so badly for this to work out. It has been a rough year for me career-wise. I have a really good feeling about this though, so I am optimistic.
And here are a few pics from the past few weeks...
Ok, that's it for now. I promise to be back again very soon!
Listen, I'm an adoptive mom. I get it. I know you love Veronica and that it was indescribably hard to let her to go to her father 19 months ago. After all, you had been raising her since birth for almost two years. I know you feel that you are her rightful parents, and that she should be with you. But here is the thing: Veronica's father has been fighting for her since she was a very little baby. He did not ever consent to Veronica being adopted. It was back when she was 4 months old, and Dusten Brown made known he was not only against the adoption, but willing and able to raise her himself, that you should have let her go. But...like I said, I can almost understand how you couldn't let her go. She had been with you since birth, she truly felt like your daughter. So you held on until you were legally forced to give her up when she was 23 months old.
So here we are today. Veronica has now been living with her father for 19 months. By all accounts they have a strong bond, and Veronica has thrived in his care. And you. You are still fighting to get her back. This I don't understand. And frankly, my sympathy for you is zilch. My sympathy is for the little girl who, because of you, may be taken, once again from her home and in this case, taken from her biological family.
Like I said, I'm an adoptive parent. I love my daughter more than words could ever describe. But if she had ever been removed from my custody and given to her biological parents, I would really, really like to think I would have done the right thing and let her go. Not kept fighting for her. As heartrending as it would be for me, I hope I would have realized that at that point, this child wasn't available for adoption. See, adoption should only be for children who have no family willing or able to care for them. Veronica has a father who has proven himself to be a fit parent who wants to raise his child, in fact is raising his child. She is not available for adoption. You may feel entitled to her, but you aren't. She doesn't need "saving" or to be brought "home." She already is home.
My question to you is, how will you answer her when she asks you why you took her away from her father? From her family? Do you think uprooting her again will have no negative impact on her? If you truly care about her well-being, then do the right thing. Let her stay with Dusten. Stop fighting for her so that Dusten and his wife can focus on raising her and not on fighting you in court.
Today was the first day...
the obligatory first day of school pic:
enough with the pictures, already, Mom...
I took her to school this morning, and got to meet her new teacher briefly. It was a little chaotic because everyone was lining up inside the cafeteria, instead of outside, because of the rain. But all the staff was great, really welcoming and helpful. Have I mentioned how much I love her school? :)
When I picked her up from Afterschool, I was of course eager to hear all about her day. But the kid didn't give me much, except that she ate a bagel and beans for lunch (?). She seemed happy, though and had no complaints. I guess I can't ask for more than that! Hard to believe I have a first grader!
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