tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35990418.post2648611585083401410..comments2024-03-08T13:52:22.224-07:00Comments on LAJOY FAMILY: Asthmatic Reflection of Years Lost and Much GainedCindy LaJoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16486626867331586704noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35990418.post-41193024148987703832012-01-20T03:01:02.570-07:002012-01-20T03:01:02.570-07:00It is so hard to grow them right out of your house...It is so hard to grow them right out of your house....a sense of forboding and yet, so many joys to come :o) To watch and see what they do with their lives. You have instilled curiosity in them, you have instilled a sense of security, that will get them so far and one day.... grandchildren!! WOOHOO!! It's so hard to know how much of their lives you've missed when you adopt. So hard to not feel totally ripped off. You have done great things in your little snippet of time :o)Carrie DeLillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07130418114627916690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35990418.post-86639199585613022952012-01-15T01:32:46.924-07:002012-01-15T01:32:46.924-07:00R has only been home for 8 months and we are alrea...R has only been home for 8 months and we are already talking about college, jobs, children. 14 years lost for us - her childhood lost. So unfair - it seems like our older kids will be adults before we have any time with them.<br /><br />catAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35990418.post-86574346864034574712012-01-14T23:44:59.580-07:002012-01-14T23:44:59.580-07:00I did it again...wrote too many thoughts and had ...I did it again...wrote too many thoughts and had to split it in two!<br /><br />Also like you, we try to spend as much time together as a family as we can, home together when we aren't at one or other of their sporting/music activities. I keep a rather short "leash" on my kids, requiring more family time than most parents of teens. I figure they spend enough time at school/pracitces/events with their friends. So usually the rest of the time (when there is any) is for family. I'm reminded in reading your late night musings, that besides being of benefit to the oldest still at home for <br />1 1/2yrs, it's being fair to the two who came home at 10yrs and 11yrs to build those family memories with those we can still "keep" at home as much as possible. <br /><br />And while our high school jr would often like to spend some time with friends or at another home or two watching sports with "the guys", he quite quickly settles in to watch an animated family movie or sports with the family. I just remind them all that soon enough they will be gone and not under our roof. They don't put up much of a fight over such decisions. They just know that's the way mom is!<br /><br />I can see that our newest two feel it at times when the others are talking about childhood memories or looking at photo albums. Yet they do have good memories and photos of those years spent in a loving children's home. That helps some, at least.<br /><br />Now off to bed for me, a late nighter, too. Sorry my comments are often more like "posts", too. Though we are going about some things differently, I can often relate to your thoughts and adjustments/struggles with children brought home at older ages. <br /><br />Nancy againAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35990418.post-25321878383275088572012-01-14T23:43:56.750-07:002012-01-14T23:43:56.750-07:00First, I don't know about CO or your school di...First, I don't know about CO or your school district, but I know some homeschool families who take advantage of the college level courses offered through our local high school. Our kids are enrolled in public school and have taken or are taking the opportunity our district offers with either college credit or also dual credit classes. In the latter case, they get both high school and college credits. Some of these classes are offered by a nearby jr college. Others are offered through a state university. A few are online, but in most cases, either a visiting instructor teaches or our local high school teacher qualifies to teach them. Our older kids all headed off to college with one or nearly one semester's worth of credits. It has been a blessing financially for us.<br /><br />Our four left at home are all working towards being ready for college after the traditional four years of high school. Yet, in reality, it might be that some of the four need to take a different route. We want them to have those expectations and high goals for themselves, yet at the same time I sometimes discuss with them that things might go a little differently for them than their peers, or older siblings. It's a fine line, wanting them to aim for that goal, but also wanting them to know we will help them achieve what is possible in these next four years and then see what is best for them. If that makes sense.<br /><br />Our newest two have much catching up to do, though the process is happening at their own pace. They have helps in place, but we are constantly needing to keep on top of those things/advocating for them in the schools. We're in a small, rural district, where we feel their teachers and for the most part the administration is working to help them. <br /><br />I've had to work at accepting that theirs might be a different path, as hubby and I consider our college days as times of great growth as Christians. We had great fellowship and teaching that we couldn't have had in our own small towns. We made lifelong friends during those years. We also met there! So it's taken me a bit to accept that especially our two newest might take other paths to such things. Oh yes. Hubby and I also learned a thing or two academically in college, too! Neither of us used our teaching degrees in the traditional sense, but we wouldn't trade those years. Yet, like you, we haven't had our last four kids as long as the ones either birthed or adopted as infants. They will have lived longer in the orphanage than they will have here at home with us. That is sad, indeed, yet the way it is. <br /><br />Nancy in the MidwestAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35990418.post-90503143859616167972012-01-14T08:47:27.738-07:002012-01-14T08:47:27.738-07:00I'll echo Mishelle on colleges. The private o...I'll echo Mishelle on colleges. The private ones look for ways to broaden their mix. There are also other ways to approach this. Maybe someday we can have a long talk. There might be a way to make some money just by being a consultant on applying for and financing college.<br /><br />I cannot ease your pain about all you have missed in the children's lives, but I can say once again that I don't know anyone who has been more present (a presence) in the life and growth of your children. Where I will and do have sketchy memories of my kids' childhoods, you will have a storehouse of treasures. <br /><br />Blessings on each and every moment,<br />LaelAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35990418.post-61148642429567877712012-01-14T08:07:15.514-07:002012-01-14T08:07:15.514-07:00A lot of private colleges have large endowments fo...A lot of private colleges have large endowments for student scholarships, and they value students with non-traditional backgrounds and unique talents. Maybe another option?Mishellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02176411888742424533noreply@blogger.com