What has the first year with Theo been like ?
I think we can both say it has been the best year of our lives ! Although adjusting to a new family and culture for Theo was difficult at times , we have shared so many wonderful “ firsts ” together . Just a few of the highlights : Theo ’ s first birthday in our home , riding his first scooter , seeing his first Christmas tree , teaching him the alphabet , and celebrating our first Christmas as a family . We are so grateful for every day with Theo , and we still pinch ourselves that he is actually here !
How would you describe your parenting style ?
I ( Courtney ) am more laid back than I thought I would be . Becoming a mom at thirty definitely made me worry less about the little stuff . Michael is the more playful parent , always ready to build the biggest Magna-Tiles rocket with Theo , but he is also very good at setting boundaries and expectations for behavior .
What has been the most challenging aspect of parenting so far ?
Navigating Theo ’ s grief from losing his foster family of twenty months was the most heartbreaking thing we have experienced so far . Although our adoption agency did its best to prepare us for this , nothing can prepare you like a real-life experience . While it was challenging , it helped us form an amazing bond with Theo as we walked through his grief together .
How do you plan to talk about adoption with Theo ?
We have tried to learn from other adoptees about their experiences , and we are very open with Theo about adoption . It is already very common in our home to talk with him about his foster family , social worker , and “ Mommy and Daddy bringing you home from Thailand .” His favorite part of “ Theo ’ s story ” is flying on the big airplane . We have photos around the home from his time in Thailand , and we hope to take him back to Thailand in a few years . We pray Theo will always feel comfortable talking with us about his adoption .
How are you beginning to teach Theo about Jesus and your Christian faith ?
Theo didn ’ t have any exposure to Christianity before we met him . One of the first songs I sang to him was “ Jesus Loves Me .” Easter was just a few weeks after we arrived home in America , and Theo loves books , so we read him a book explaining the real meaning of Easter . We also have
“ We are so grateful for every day with Theo , and we still pinch ourselves that he is actually here !”
family prayer time every night . I could tell he was quite confused by that at the beginning , but now he loves to ask if he can pray first ! Theo has a knack for memorization , so we have also started Scripture memorization . After Theo came home from Thailand , he really struggled to sleep in his new home environment . He memorized Isaiah 41:10 , “ Do not be afraid , for I am with you .” We use this verse to tell him that Jesus is always with us , and we don ’ t have to be afraid . I have heard him quote it several times without being prompted .
Now that Theo is a part of the family , what are your favorite family traditions or special family events ?
Family prayer time is our nightly tradition . If Theo thinks we are going to forget to pray for some reason , he always reminds us . We also do our best to sit down for a family dinner every night that we are home . ■
Due to Thai adoption laws , we are not allowed to show Theo ’ s face where he is recognizable until his adoption registration is complete at the Thai consulate .
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