Day 5: Too Many People at the Party

Since returning from the Philippines, life has seemed like a perpetual party. People bring food, they deliver presents, they hang balloons, they celebrate. Some even draped a banner over our front door. We've seen a different set of friends or family every day we've been back. Although this partying is a lot of fun, and we feel so loved, it's taking a toll on Rex. We have to slow down.

Tonight we stopped the van to say hello to our neighbor, Cathy. I opened Rex' door so Cathy could catch a glimpse of him. She almost didn't get the words, "Hello, Rex" out of her mouth when he began to cry and desperately reach for me. I quickly shut the door and we drove off. He's meeting just too many people right now. I think that's it. Or, he's scared to death of blondes. You don't see many blondes in the Philippines. Actually, you don't see any, unless they're from somewhere else. That could be it, but I don't think so.

No, I think all these new faces--blonde or not--are a bit much for him. And that's understandable, given what he's been through. Today was a good reminder that we as adoptive parents need to constantly consider Rex' perspective. We might want to see our friends, and hang out with our extended family, and receive guests into our home, and introduce the world to Rex. But for now, the world is too big for Rex; he needs us to be his world, and once he feels safe in it, his world can expand. For now there's too many people at the party.