"Mamma, will we be able to get my new sister while I am still six?"
She likes to gauge time based on her age.
Since her birthday is only a couple of months away, I had to explain to her that she would probably already be seven when it happened.
She doesn't like that because, similar to becoming seven, waiting in line and walking home from school, it takes forever.
We talked some more about it and the more Trin talked, the more I realized that her little innocent mind hadn't realized that this little girl wouldn't be just like her. Or just like her friends. She wasn't going to arrive here all happy and ready to play.
"Trin, can you tell me what kind of heart you have?"
"A happy heart."
"That's right. And your new sister, when she gets here, she is going to have a very sad heart."
"Why?"
"Well, think about all of the things that make your heart happy. You have a Mommy and Daddy who love you so very much and The Sisters and Yai-Yai and Doh-Doh and Aunt Ruthie... and all of your friends and Chica and Lila and Tucker? And your friends at school. You have a home with a yard you can play in all day long. You have toys and dresses. But most of all, can you tell me how many people love you?"
"A LOT!"
"Yup, a LOT of people love you. But your new sister? She doesn't have a Mommy or Daddy or a Doh-Doh or Yai-Yai or any puppy dogs or friends. She is all alone and she's scared and her heart is very sad."
"Mamma, I think I'm going to cry."
"Awww, baby, don't cry. But you gotta know that when she gets here, she isn't going to be happy. She's going to be scared. She's going to be scared that we won't want her too. And she's going to be scared because she's going to be in a new house with all new people and she won't know any of us. Wouldn't you be scared too?"
"Yeah, I would be really scared."
She thought about all of this until we pulled into the yard and then I asked her, "So, what do you think the hardest thing will be about having your new sister?"
"I think it will be making heart happy again."
"Yeah, me too."
"Wait! I think the hardest part will be getting her juice, I'm not a very good pourer."
Labels: adoption, Being Mommy, Triniti
