Best friends they are.
Just 17 months ago, our family adopted a Russian orphan. A little girl that had no family ... no mommy, daddy or siblings to call her own.
A little girl the baby home caregivers and other orphans referred to as Nika. A little girl we named Addison.
Going into our adoption, I think the thing I was most excited about was the bond that I hoped Payton and Addison would have. Sisters ... nine months apart, both sporting an extra chromosome, best friends for life.
When Addison came home, things were not the fairytale I had dreamed about. Payton was in love with her new sister, however the feelings were not necessarily returned. And that broke a momma's heart.
I soon came to realize that Addison had spent her life in fight or flight mode when it came to other kids. If she didn't fight for her toy, she'd lose it. If she didn't fight for the food placed in front of her, she'd lose it. That was how she coped and the last thing she wanted was her doting little momma-of-a-sister in her face all the time.
She cried. She turned her back. She wanted Payton to leave her alone.
But one day ... one day she decided it might not be so bad to have a sister that loved her. And she gave in.
Today ... they are the best of friends. Well ... most days they are.
Payton is still the doting little momma-of-a-sister that Addison does not necessarily care to have. But we work our way through Addison's tears of frustration, tell Payton to back off and we move on.
Sisters they are. Best friends they are.
A little girl the baby home caregivers and other orphans referred to as Nika. A little girl we named Addison.
Going into our adoption, I think the thing I was most excited about was the bond that I hoped Payton and Addison would have. Sisters ... nine months apart, both sporting an extra chromosome, best friends for life.
When Addison came home, things were not the fairytale I had dreamed about. Payton was in love with her new sister, however the feelings were not necessarily returned. And that broke a momma's heart.
I soon came to realize that Addison had spent her life in fight or flight mode when it came to other kids. If she didn't fight for her toy, she'd lose it. If she didn't fight for the food placed in front of her, she'd lose it. That was how she coped and the last thing she wanted was her doting little momma-of-a-sister in her face all the time.
She cried. She turned her back. She wanted Payton to leave her alone.
But one day ... one day she decided it might not be so bad to have a sister that loved her. And she gave in.
Today ... they are the best of friends. Well ... most days they are.
Payton is still the doting little momma-of-a-sister that Addison does not necessarily care to have. But we work our way through Addison's tears of frustration, tell Payton to back off and we move on.
Sisters they are. Best friends they are.