A very interesting article in Time has me thinking this morning about sibs ... mine ... my kids' ... other peoples' ... brothers and sisters specific and in general.

Subtitled, "Your parents raised you. Your spouse lives with you. But it's your brothers and sisters who really shaped you. Surprising research reveals how," had me intrigued and examining the connections in my family.

... our brothers and sisters are our collaborators and co-conspirators, our role... more

Continued from this post.

We stopped at home for a nap (For me and for Cj. Sam and Mark were busy doing guy stuff.), then headed out for the 4th of July "bash". This was hosted by the owner of a local hotel, himself an American ... sort of ... and we went with the idea of hot dogs and burgers, some ice cold beer, and possibly ice cream or something 4th of July-ish. I'd expected to see a game of softball, maybe, or horseshoes (although I must admit I've never seen horseshoes... more

Some traditions just don't translate. Or perhaps it's that, like certain wines, they don't travel well.

The Americans in Seychelles, all of about twenty of us, got together today to celebrate the 4th of July. That was the intended point of the event, in any case, even though not one kid wore red, white and blue and "Old Glory" was nowhere to be seen. No one whistled the tune that goes with, "This is the cereal that's shot from guns ... boom, boom" (If you don't get that reference, it's because you're younger than I am.), and there were no sparklers or pyrotechnics of any sort.

What... more

As readers know, I live in a land of simple pleasures and low-tech toys. The kids' beach bag carries a ball, a couple of empty formula tins (with the free scoops that come with), floaties and some cookie cutters. Fun is had.

When not beaching it we still have very little use for batteries ... a box of band-aids is a costume shop and a cloth diaper makes a super hero.

Today,... more

I wrote recently about a couple of Seychelles families bringing Cambodian children home and how very happy we all are about their new additions.

Both were adopted from the orphanage where my kids were cared for (AOA, near Phnom Penh), and since they were going there to get their little ones, we asked them to take some things for us. AOA gets quite a bit of support from adoptive parents, with some contributing monthly, others donating... more

Mark and I are uncomfortably perched on the horns of a dilemma. For the past months we've been running from one end of the see-saw to the other hoping the fulcrum will shift a bit and give some idea of on which side of the issue we should sit down and stick. No luck, so far.

Then, last night I had the idea to ask for opinions here. After all, Blogreaderland has a population of smart people with loads of diverse info and insights, some of which you might be willing to share with me.

So...

(Patience, please, as I lay the groundwork and give the... more

Of all the new experiences Sam had in Africa, one is certain to seem a bit mundane to most of you.

He had his first session on a swing. Of course, this was an African swing, so carved from some beautiful piece of hardwood and hung from a huge tree I didn't recognize. And while he pendulummed back and forth under the darkening African sky a hyrax shrieked for a mate.

That's right. My poor, deprived little boy has lived for more than three and a half years and had not, to my recollection or his, been on a swing before an evening in Kenya made that simple pleasure possible.

Why?

We've... more

What the dedicated staff of The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust Elephant Orphanage does with baby elephants was covered in yesterday's post.

When the babies reach a bit more than two years, and when there are at least three of them at about this age, the process of releasing into the wild begins. Skills are taught daily during walks in the park, so not everything will be... more

After four hours of driving, Sam was a bit surprised that we headed for the car again soon after checking into our room at the Kilaguni Lodge.

When the answer to, "Where are we going?" came back, "We're not going anywhere ... just for a game drive," he looked confused, but for a kid who loves animals the way Sam does a game drive is the perfect thing follow to a long car session.

Within a very short time we'd spotted our first animal, a lone impala ... what a sight! All of a sudden, those of us in the car new to the safari experience knew we were in a... more

I'm cross-posting this on both the International Adoption Blog and the Older Parent Adoption Blog. Sorry for the repetition if you read both.

Here's the list of things Sam's decided he wants to do in Africa: golf, play football, carry suitcases, buy toys and books.

Where any of this comes from is beyond me. A child's perspective is so removed from the adult way of looking at the world that it's as if different planets are inhabited by each species.

My world today if full of packing, details, laundry, lists and 'don't forget the__' anxieties. My vision... more