Day 43: Rex' Life Book

When Rex has had a rough night, like last night, he looks through his Life Book. His Life Book is a collection of photographs from his time with his foster family. Ate Kim ("ate" is pronounced ehh-tay and means sister in Tagalog), is Rex' 14 year-old foster sister, and she made the book for him. There are pictures of the immediate foster family and their extended family and friends and fun things Rex did with them. Kim put special three dimensional stickers inside and decorated the pages with colorful markers. Rex loves looking at it, and we keep it in an easy place for him to get to. Rex' Life Book has eased the transition from Kim's family to ours.

One might think that using a book such as this is the wrong way to comfort a child who is having a rough time. I mean, why remind him of the great life he used to have when his life now is so different? Isn't that just rubbing it in his face? I mean, he's not about to buy a plane ticket and fly back to the Philippines on his own (he doesn't have a credit card), so why waive the Philippines in front of his face? I can see how one might think it cruel, but that hasn't been the case for Rex. When he thumbs through the book, a bright smile flashes across his face, he points to the pictures, and names the people in them. The book makes him happy, not sad.

It must feel great to see the faces of the people who loved him so dearly. I think that's why his smile is brighter than the sun and wider than the Pacific Ocean when he sees his Life Book. He knows he has been loved before. And even though he's in a different place and among different people, if he's been loved before, then he can be loved again. Rex needs to know this most of all, and because of his Life Book, he can. It's written all over it.