Adoptive Parenting: Lesson Learned (for now)

The therapist never called me back.

I learned something this week, though; Jordan and I may just need dance therapy.

We have been locked up inside for the past week due to the snotting-coughing-fevering virus.  We have literally been in our pj's for several days in a row now.  Our only outing so far has been a quick run through Taco Bell to get Jordan a cheese rollup and a Sprite in an attempt to get him to finally eat and drink something.  I can't say it's been all that terrible, really, to be cooped up inside.  Yes, I am definitely sick of my house at this point, but being with the boys like this has been really great for the soul.

And really great for Jordan and me.

With each passing day this week, I have noticed Jordan "softening" a little more toward me, with much more eye contact, many more smiles in my direction, and even a few kind words, like, "I love my family," and "Mommy, do you want to build airplanes with me?"  Sweet, sweet words.

But yesterday was probably the best day of our relationship in a long, long time.

It was day #4 of being stuck at home, and honestly, we had run out of ideas.  You can only watch so many episodes of "Fresh Beat Band" on Netflix.  So, as I was getting lunch ready, I decided to turn on a little Katy Perry Pandora.  Don't judge; you know you like her music too.  Lincoln grabbed my phone (he is usually the designated "music-holder") and Jordan and I began to boogie.  We've got some skillz on the dance floor, so one of our favorite things to do is mimic one another's dance moves.  At one point, Jordan was doing what he calls the "refrigerator," where he holds onto it's door handles and shoots one leg up in the air at a time, all the while shouting, "Mom!  Try this one!"  Hilarious.  We jumped.... we marched.... we shook our hips and our booties.  And we laughed.  A ton.

The dance party was so much fun that we decided to have another one right before Daddy got home.  This one included a lot of jumping and "Spiderman hands," as Jordan calls them.

But here's the point.... about 10 minutes after our second dance party concluded, the boys and I were chilling on the couch upstairs watching some PBS.  All of a sudden, Jordan wiggled his way toward me and whispered in my ear, "Do you want a back rub, Mommy?"  Be still my heart.  "Absolutely, buddy!"  He stuck his sweet little chocolate hand down in between my sweatshirt and my back, and he began to scratch/rub my back so gently... like I was his brand new puppy.  Eventually, the rubbing ceased, but his little hand remained.  He rested his head against my shoulder, snuggled up to my side, and watched an entire PBS show like this... in complete comfort and peace.

I don't think I breathed the entire time.

I was trying to soak in every single, sweet moment with my precious Jordan.  I was whispering, "Buddy, you are so good at back rubs!  Thank you!" over and over and over.  I would also whisper, "Thank you for sitting so close to Mommy.  This is my favorite part of the day."  I just wanted him to know how much he meant to me.  And, I was also whispering to God, "Thank you, Dad.  You know how sweet of a gift this is right now."

Yes, our therapist may call back.  And yes, it would probably still be wise to go for a check-up appointment soon.  But, for now, we will keep dancing.