A Play Date

Friday, August 27, 2010. Stella had her first play date today. Five-year-old Addie and four-year-old Luke were anxious to meet and play with their new friend from so far away.  Henry had a play date of his own (if you still call it that when you're nine) so he wasn't along for the fun. 

The kids swam, played dress-up and shared lots of giggles. Addie took on the task of teaching Stella some new words in English. It's heartwarming to watch children who can't even speak the same language play and imagine as if there were no obstacles in their way. 

When it was time to leave, an exhausted Stella fell apart. She wailed, cried and screamed the entire 15 minute ride home.  


The outburst seemed beyond her control and perhaps deeper than the fact that she'd had a fun day and was exhausted. I had to wonder if the fun and play she shared with Addie didn't remind her of the friends she'd left behind in China? How could she not think of them from time to time?


I hope someday she can tell me what she was thinking and feeling during this dramatic time in her life. 


For now, I have to settle for the little messages we can share....Once we got home and Stella had settled onto my lap and calmed herself down, I asked her if she was happy and pulled the sides of my mouth up to form a smile. 


She shook her head no. 


I asked in the same way, "Are you sad?"


She shook her head no again?


"How do you feel?"


She took the sides of her mouth and pulled them straight across. 


I said, "What does that mean? Are you both happy and sad?"


Stella shook her head yes.