A Day with Vladik

 

Today we had Vladik over to watch a movie and play while the Warners went back to the orphanage to spend time with the other boy they are adopting. Valera treated Vladik the way he treats the rest of us.  He covered him with the sheet, and served him food and drinks throughout the movie.  We played some UNO - we each won one a game so that worked out nicely. 

Pa and I took them ice skating.  Vladik had skated one other time but for the most part he was a beginner.  Pa helped him out.  At one point I was holding Vladik's hand and Valera skated up and held Vladik's other hand.  My dad was skating nearby, our eyes met and we shared the look of "is that not the sweetest thing?"  12 year olds in America more than likely wouldn't do that.  But this is probably what two 12 year old boys do who have grown up together in an orphanage.  They look out for one another.

Valera seemed pretty proud of himself that his skating has gotten so good.  At one point I even saw him pump his legs to the beat of the music (think roller rink you fellow 70's people).  It was a hoot!

At any rate, Anya, Den and the Warners met us at the rink at the end of our skating session.  We ate at the food court then me, Pa and Valera came back to our apartment.  We ate dinner here, watched Toy Story 2 (in Russian) then Valera took a shower.  I had told him after his shower he could watch Tom and Jerry on his ipod. Well, we couldn't find Tom and Jerry on YouTube so I just told him he would have to go to sleep.  He said, "no tom and jerry, no spot (which means sleep)".   He was not going to go to sleep, I couldn't figure out the ipod (have I mentioned I'm not good at technology?), I was panicing - not being able to communicate well.  My dad, poor guy, was watching two people who couldn't communicate run circles around each other (not literally...but almost).

I took a deep breath and tried to picture myself in Valera's shoes.  I said he could watch one short tom and jerry clip, then sleep.  I wasn't keeping my end of the bargain so he wasn't going to keep his.  I figured out how to find a clip...I went into his room to show him.  He came out from hiding under the sheets, smiled.  I apologized for not understanding.  He said, "it's o.k."  We watched 2 short clips and he went to sleep (at least I think so).

Now I sit on my bed trying to remind myself of all the good of the day, not the way the night ended.  Reminding myself that this was a learning experience.  See, for a perfectionist, this is tough work.  I KNOW I am not perfect, but I expect so much of myself - way more than I expect from anyone else. I am going to sleep with some verses on my forehead and under my chest - so that when I wake up in the morning my mind and my heart will cling to God's promise in Jeremiah 31:25 "I will refresh the weary..."

And as I sign off, I will rejoice in the fact that although I couldn't figure out the ipod temporarily (picture walkman in a belt around my waist...that's what we are working with here people), I am posting pictures on the blog without Ted's assistance. 

Progress....