Steady Mom

How to talk to your kids about modern-day slavery

This month I’m blogging from the Philippines on behalf of Love146. If you’ve missed any posts in this series, head here to catch up:

• Education that nurtures, education that heals
• The abolition of child trafficking and exploitation. Nothing less.

Over the past two weeks as I’ve written about modern-day slavery and our family’s personal mission to abolish it, a few readers have asked questions like these:

“How much do your kids actually know about your husband’s work with Love146?”

“How do I talk to my children about an issue as dark and complex as this one?”

This post addresses those questions, providing ideas about how to approach this topic with your own family. I’ve categorized the thoughts below by age range, but please keep in mind that our kids vary drastically in their development.

Some will be ready for information at an early age, some late. I tend to veer toward the better late than early philosophy–especially when I’m giving advice to so many of you–but you are the expert in your home so adjust as needed.

Head to Simple Homeschool to read the rest.

if I had more time

I wish I had more time to put thoughts into words about our time thus far in the Philippines. I would try to describe my children's faces when they saw families and little children living in a park--their first experience with homelessness.

I'd try to express the uncomfortability that anyone who's traveled cross-culturally knows well--of feeling so thankful to be somewhere, and yet so ruffled in the same moment. I'd let you know that it's such a good thing--for us to have that feeling.

For many days we're here, our actual routine hasn't changed that much from what it's like at home. Steve still goes to work--it's just in a taxi to the Manila office (& sometimes it takes a while to get there in traffic!).

As for me, I teach, correct, beg God for patience when moments take a turn for the worse, and attempt to put food on the table--only I'm doing it all from 16 stories up in our apartment. Free range rambling in the fields of Newtown has been replaced by an afternoon spent in the swimming pool of the apartment building--one good thing traded for another.

If I had more time, I'd say that our family gets a lot of attention around these parts. Diverse families like ours are pretty unusual here. For the most part, I don't mind this. It's normal to notice differences and be curious about them.

But sometimes I want to crawl in a hole. At those times I take a deep breath, look away from the stares, and remind myself that my mission in life is not to blend. Our family is meant to be noticed, to make people think.

If I could sit down for tea with you, I'd do an imperfect job of letting you know what it was like to pass the guarded, concrete walls of Love146's Round Home for the first time--a place I've wanted to see for years.

Like any special, monumental moments, I experienced it all through a surreal clouded haze, one I've been trying to process ever since.

I don't have all the right words or the perfect amount of time, but I've wrangled more thoughts into a post about my visit with Trishna to the Round Home and I'd love for you to come over to Simple Homeschool, take a read, and partner with us.

"You may choose to look the other way,
but you can never again say that you did not know."
~ William Wilberforce

honoring his story

I stood in the African shade trembling--not only from heat, but nervousness too.

They passed you to me and I sobbed while you stared, wide-eyed. Most of the other babies and their new papas and mamas bonded, played, and slept.

Not us.

20 minutes later the vomiting started, and fear rushed through me like the passing ocean waves outside the orphanage door. And that night alone in a 3rd world country I had no clue how this story would end.

Now I do.

********

It ends with a expedited return flight home from Liberia.

With a frightening hospital trip back in the States.

It ends with you adding chubby baby rolls to those protruding ribs.

With you growing healthier (finally!), smiling baby grins and holding out baby arms to me.

God gave us a happy ending.

********

Yesterday you turned eight. Eight!

As you grow, you fit your names more and more:

Elijah: Jehovah is my God. (Your prophetic, serious side.)

Kondwani: Joyful (Your dimpled smile, positive side)

Martin: You belong right here with us, my boy.

********

I honor your story, Elijah.

I honor the one who made the hardest sacrifice out of hope and love for you--your birthmother.

And I honor the One who answered her prayers (& our own) and led us from a world away to walk life's journey together.

Happy birthday, my son.

"We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life.
But those who make their journey home across time & miles,
growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them,
are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us
by God's very own hands."
~ Kristi Larson

Multi-task with a mission this holiday season

Over on Simple Homeschool, I'm sharing about an incredibly easy way to make our holiday spending count this year--Please come take a read!

 

From my post:

"This time of year we often find ourselves buried under a pile of “to-do’s.” Even for those of us attempting to embrace a less commercial holiday, many of our tasks involve shopping in one form or another.

Today I’m thankful for the opportunity to share with you a way we can multi-task with a mission, combining our shopping errands with something much more significant.

It’s called Pure Charity.

I recently bought some items we need for the upcoming season–a bike for Jonathan this Christmas, winter boots for Elijah, and a homeschooling mama’s best friends–new books to add to our shelves.

These purchases weren’t extras, but items I would have been buying anyway. By using Pure Charity, the stores I bought through are giving a small percentage of the money back to me–to donate to the charity I choose!"

Head here for more details, and to see where I'm donating my funds!