Balancing Act

One of Emily's favorite shows is Super Nanny. At first I was hesitant to let her watch it because I didn't want her exposed to and imitating bad behavior, but that really hasn't been an issue. Instead, the show has helped to reinforce her understanding of the need for rules and consequences. Now, at the beginning of the shows, she gets a little concerned about the family's bad behavior and is anxious for JoJo to come and give them some rules.

Yesterday, she informed me that when Olivia comes we might need to call Super Nanny. "Mom, when you call Super Nanny, you'll have to tell them we have TWO kids, one named Emily and one named Olivia..." When I asked if we'd need to call Super Nanny for HER, she let me know it'd be for Olivia. It's been hard to find a balance in preparing her for her new sister, and apparently now she's expecting the worst :(

I want to prepare her for the reality that it might be a tough transition with Olivia, but I don't want to turn her excitement to dread. The reality is that many adoptees have a hard time adjusting and go through a period of grieving the loss of their life as they knew it. Some have raging tantrums, some just shut down, while others try to be angels so they'll be accepted. We've had months to prepare, but often the orphans aren't told anything until the day of the family's arrival. Then, they're sometimes shocked and disappointed to be handed over to people who look strange, sound strange, smell funny and don't even speak their language. That's a lot for a little one to digest! It's going to be a tough balancing act for all of us. Preparing for the worst, hoping for the best...