Of course, not the people, but their hurtful words. As someone whose life didn't start out like that of the vast majority of people around me, it's not hard to see why people like me, i.e. adoptees, might want to shy away from being themselves. It's easy for many to say "of course you should... Continue Reading →
Apparently, I’m Father of the Year 2023!
As I'm typing this on my phone in Amadeus' hospital room, my son is resting in his hospital bed, hooked up to a device that monitors his vital signs, while a soft "hisssss" can be heard from his oxygen mask. Meanwhile, my phone is buzzing left and right with congratulations on having been awarded 2023... Continue Reading →
A Third Culture Kid’s dream
I know where I was born, but I don't know where I come from. I know where I live, but I don't know where I belong. I know what I call home right now, but I don't know how to hold on to it. I dream of permanence, but is that just a figment of... Continue Reading →
Beat, Little Heart
Beat, little heart, your daddy's got you safe and sound, Let my arms be your fortress and your rock solid ground, That you may look upon the world not out of worry and fear, Knowing you can meet it head-on with love as your spear. Beat, little heart, show the world you've got what it... Continue Reading →
A special-needs child is a celebration of all that’s good in this world
I'll be honest: When we first found out (prenatally) that our boy had Down syndrome, it was devastating. I had to fight my inner demons saying things like "what will the world think about him and us?", "What if I don't love him?" and "Will I be happy?". I think it's safe to say that... Continue Reading →
Three years married; experiences enough for 30
I can't believe I'm saying this, but having and raising a baby has been one of the easier parts of our three years of marriage. Today is our 3-year (leather) wedding anniversary (we got married on Feb 29, 2020), and it is quite remarkable how--in these three years--there have been so many life-changing events that... Continue Reading →
Burn-out is one of the best things that could’ve happened to me
I know how this sounds, but bear with me. As I look back at my life, I see a pathological people-pleaser, literally unable to put his own needs first before helping others. While I theoretically knew I had a problem with this, somehow I also imagined myself being an endless source of helping hands. But... Continue Reading →
When it’s all said and done
I find myself sitting here, half-way through my vacation, staring out the window. Outside, the rain pours down, and I think to myself, "some vacation this is." And then I stop myself and remember why the grass is green, why the birds fly, and why I was able to have a proper meal on my... Continue Reading →
Beyond all doubt: How orphanhood is shaping my fatherhood
No matter the culture, no matter the language, no matter the childโone universal fact transcends every border and every notion man could ever invent: a child is born to love. There are many things a child can do without, but a sense of belonging isnโt one of them. But I am about to have a... Continue Reading →
2021: CMT, pregnancy, miscarriage, hyperemesis, Down syndrome, cancer
I don't even know what to think, say or feel anymore. I don't even know how all of this has managed to fit into just one year, much less how I am (and we're) still alive. I think I know what it feels like to be a tiny ship in a vast ocean, one moment... Continue Reading →