Ben's epiphany

We've talked to Ben about his adoption from day one. Telling him his story of how he lived in an orphanage and he needed a family and we needed a family and how wonderful it is that we were all brought together. He has never liked to talk about his having "another mother" before me. In fact when he was younger he would just yell "ahhhhhhhhhh" whenever I tried to bring that part of the story up. But with Sarina coming home we've been talking much more about lost birth mothers and how Sarina lost her mother and I will be her new mother. We're reading "A Mama for Owen" which is a story of a hippo that loses his mother and is adopted by a male tortoise. And we talk about Sarina losing her mothter. How sad that is. I've been waiting patiently for him to make the leap that he lost his birth mother too. Well he has finally made the connection. Today we were at the mall with his friends and as I put his coat on to go home he said "Mom, I think when I was in Nepal I lost my mother." Just like that out of nowhere. I said Yes, you did. He gave a little whimper and we had a good hug. Then he was fine. For now I just let him lead me to where he wants to go with his story but I think our trip to Nepal might well have some big moments for Ben.

He still has some trouble getting the concept down that he will have a sister and it is clear that he is thinking how our family will change. On the way home he said "If you're Sarina's Mommy then who will be my Mommy?" I pointed out that his friends had siblings and they had the same Mommy but he really got it when I told him his Daddy has 7 sisters and one brother all with the same Mommy. He smiled at that one.