I have related on previous occasions that some of my children believe me to be Russia’s wicked witch, Baba Yaga. It’s because I insist on things like school, manners, and cleanliness. The horror of it all. But we are now in that period of time, that magical era that’s the first half of May. This…
By now, everyone knows that Russia warned America about the elder Chechen brother who eventually masterminded the Boston Marathon terror attack. Russia reportedly also cooperated in questioning the father of the suspects, with Russia proving to be an ally-of-sorts during America’s time of need. Is global warming being taken to the next level in a…
My oldest son and I watched the brief interviews with the Chechen terrorists’ father, now in Dagestan. He claimed that some cops framed people, and that this had undoubtedly happened to his poor sons, accused of placing bombs at the Boston Marathon. My teen thought this through. “Mama, if someone accused us of a crime,…
As the children grow and mature, many onlookers take things at face value: the kids are attractive, and bright, and well-mannered. Usually. And I agree. But then we get into the gray areas of life, that honestly, have me stumped. How to say no to an onlooker who feels that Pasha should be taking flying…
As adoptive parents, most of us have missed some of our children’s milestones. Whether it’s as brief as their first few hours on Planet Earth, or years of learning to talk, walk, eat, and dress, we sense the loss. When our first son came home at almost eight years old, I took pictures of everything: …
Girls of all ages can act stupid… if their parents let them. Mine never allowed me to act “cute”. (Yes, I know, this could explain a lot-!) Not that I was not attractive, I mean, I was not allowed to use looks, or acting dumb, to get me out of hard work. Are you following…
As adoptive parents, some of our kids have issues that have nothing to do with us. While liberating in a sense (for us), for them, it could spell disaster: poor executive function, nonexistent social skills and cues, problems with impulse control, reading comprehension that’s not even on the Richter scale. On the other hand, most…
Until you’ve walked in someone else’s shoes…. I’ve never been a bio parent, but I am an adoptive parent. When my kids introduce me, they never say, “And this is my adoptive mom, Alexandra.” But as parents, do we think of ourselves as parents, or a-parents? I believe most of us would simply think of…
My younger three kids are troopers. They haven’t been around as long as our eldest, therefore a lot of trust issues are still toying with them. In general, if Mama suggests a course of action, an article of clothing, or a specific food group, it’s probably been offered in order to maim them for life,…
(or, “Blini I Don’t Need to be Eating”) It’s that season when the faithful Russian Orthodox need to be penitent. Not of that persuasion myself, I’ve always found that a bit of penitence goes a long way. So the 40 days before Easter were called, once upon a time, “Myasapusta” (meat-free), later giving way to…
