Pestering

I have completely lost touch with child care. Since Marina was about 2 years old, she has attended "school." Obviously it was preschool first, and now first grade, but really there was no issues with child care, because any educational establishment that wishes to remain competitive will offer very reasonable hours that blend well with a working family. I also think that we are much more demanding now. These days I'm griping about maternity leave (or lack there of), cost of nannies, not having room for an au pair, etc. I'm very stressed! I make a weekly call to our local community college (I'm now enrolled in a gym class) that boasts of a terrific child care center-students get priority of enrollment. Every Wednesday, when I call, the same woman answers. She has a beautiful accent; I think she might be from Lebanon. Anyway, she know my voice as much as I know hers and she tries so diligently to be patient with me, but I can tell it is quite a strain for her. She says: "I know, you're calling to check on the status of your application. As I told you before, only two or three babies get in per term, it is very difficult to get in. Wait for our call, we should be calling in about 2 weeks." It is worth noting that it is always in 2 weeks. I keep calling, I can't wait for their call. I'm waiting on a much more important call to bother with not calling them.

Fernando and I have been watching the video training sessions offered through Gladney. Some are good, others not so much. I finally got to see what Mary T. looks like (she's on the first Ethiopia session). She is not what I pictured...in a good way!

So I took the opportunity to call Mary about a few little questions and I'm sure she knows it was also a "hey, we're still here, remember us, the ones who have been waiting for 14 weeks as of today." She is so wonderfully patient. I know she gets these calls so often, we must be quite the topics of conversation in her home: "sweetie, guess who called again today? That's right Samantha, you know the one married to Fernando, the ones who already have a little girl. Her excuse to call me was so pathetic this time. Poor them, but they'll get their baby soon. They don't know it yet, but the little girl that they are matched up with is a real little gem." At any rate, she was great. She answered all my questions. I never understood why people had to wait so long from the time they had a favorable court date to the time they traveled. Mary said that it takes time to process the baby's passport and immigration paperwork. One can travel before, but then you would be in-country for about a month!
Well, I'm off to finish some work , life goes on, even in these desperate times. I almost forgot, we've been taking out Marina's baby clothes and can't wait to see Celeste wearing them.