Meeting with Elaina’s Foster Mom

First the bad news.  We didn’t get to see Elaina’s foster dad.  He was there—even rescheduled the visit to make sure he could attend—but our cab driver got lost.  We were late, and the foster dad couldn’t stay.  Really, really disappointing, because from the first meeting, it was obvious that they had a special bond.

The meeting with the foster mom went well though.  Elaina gave her a bouquet of flowers (which Elaina insisted upon carrying herself, down to the cab and then into the adoption agency).  Elaina gave her hugs too, including a big, long one that looked really heartfelt.  She can’t really remember her—she was nine months old the last time she saw her—but maybe subconscious things, like the sound of her voice, or her smell, are responsible for the warm welcome.

Elaina’s foster mom was very pleased to see her, to see how the baby she knew has turned into this beautiful little girl.  She wanted to know all about Elaina’s personality and interests, wanted to know how she did through the transition period, and how she was dealing with her birthmark—whether kids made fun of her.  We were working through a translator, and not everything gets communicated, but from her expressions, I think the answers all rang true to her.  She’d told us three years ago that Elaina was a fearless baby, and that’s still true of the little girl she met today. 

Elaina was her usual perky self, pretty much. Talking with DJ, the social worker, and getting DJ and Heidi and I to pose for a group picture.  (“Okay, look here, guys….  Got it.”  She’s such a pro.)

The foster mom had another baby with her—her latest foster child—and Elaina was very big-sisterly to her, which was cute.  The foster mom was also very interested in our process with Ji-seok and the fact that it’s taking so much longer.  She worries that it’s hard on the kids, I think, when they’re adopted later and later.

I really wish Elaina’s foster dad had been able to stay, but it was a very nice visit, all-in-all.  Elaina’s foster mom thanked us for the pictures we’ve sent over the years and said that Elaina’s foster dad keeps pictures of Elaina on his phone, which is sweet.