deep thoughts

Tonight we had to run errands. I promised Ladybug McDonald's if she just worked with me on it. She did fairly well. So we went to McDonald's.

We sat down with our food. She was facing the TV. So she was focused. On the TV. Finally she asked me what was on the TV. I turned and looked. CNN. Now why would CNN be on a TV that little kids would be watching? But then again... maybe it was the best choice. Haiti and Cholera were the topic of the night.

Ladybug: What are they talking about?
Me: Well there is a country called Haiti and there are a lot of people getting sick there.
Ladybug: And they are falling down?
Me: Yes. Some are dying.
Ladybug: Why?
Me: They are getting a disease called cholera.
Ladybug: How do they get that?
Me: With dirty water, I think.
Ladybug: So they need clean water?
Me: Yes.
Ladybug: We should help them.
Me: It's not that simple.
Ladybug: Well, we have a big family. We should all work together and help them.

Now how do you argue against that?

Later we were driving home when she started talking again.

Ladybug: Mama, what does "ishi" mean?
Me: It means that everything is okay.
Ladybug: And you told me that as a baby?
Me: Yes. You would calm down if I whispered "ishi" to you.
Ladybug: How long did it take you to get me?
Me: Well, from the time I decided to adopt from Africa to the time you came home was about 1 year.
Ladybug: And I wanted a blonde mommy? I mean white mommy.
Me: Well not really.
Ladybug: But I wanted to be blonde.
Me: Not really. Before you met me all the people you knew were your color. You were scared of white people.
Ladybug: But I am not now.
Me: No.
Ladybug: I want to go back to my country.
Me: Okay. We can take a trip back to Ethiopia when you get a little older.
Ladybug: I mean to live there.
Me: When you are an adult you can decide to live where ever you want.
Ladybug: I want to speak my language.
Me: Great. You can learn Amharic. You can speak more then one language.
Ladybug: I won't need English.
Me: Well you don't have to give up one language to learn another.
Ladybug: I want to be able to talk to my brothers and sisters.
Me: Honey, I don't know if you have brothers and sisters.
Ladybug: But I want them.
Me: Well, we can look for your first family. We can find out.
Ladybug: Hey Mama, you can learn Spanish if you want.

And she is only 5.

Mean Mama