Hello, I am Lori Lesko, mom to Michael Marius Lesko, 10, whom we adopted from Romania in 2000. Our son has been diagnosed with autism and verbal apraxia so we have had our share of ups and downs.
I am interested in keeping touch with other parents of kids from international adoptions, and would like to get your email and be allowed to post comments.
Thank you,
Lori Lesko
Mom of Michael
You can contact Lori through her e-mail: mike.lesco@sbcglobal.net.
Dear Heidi: My sister in law and her husband have adopted two very sweet boys, 3 and 6. She is doing a great job, though they both need to grow as parents. She is wanting to accept another sibling group over the summer to achieve her great desire for a large family to love. My husband think that’s to soon and too many needs to attend to. (We always feel that our children need us so much but see how the olders help in giving of themselves. And we have them under our care 24/7.) Can a home full of adopted children get their needs met, especially if they are all adapting to new parents at around the same time? Would social services keep this in mind? They already really seem to like their home setting for the adoptive 3 and 6 year old. I also wondered if social services would frown upon homeschooling and be prejudice against them, as I think is the reason they have their 6 y/o in public school. I pray they keep him home the next school year. He hardly has time with his new parents except busy evenings. How could he possibly get his emotional needs met being sent away everyday to a huge group of children who may or may not display positive loving environment?? No down time, no cuddle time with mom, no personal enriching interactions during a busy focus of school, school, school. There must be articles written on this?? I want to guide my sister n law as best I can and to bond our families if it proves “safe” for our family. Already, we’ve shared such beautiful exchanges of love, children and adults. It is so sweet and beautiful to witness! Sitting around and reading, eating, and playing together and frolicking in the yard and woods. But if public education continues, I fear we’d have to live more separate lives with the further influence of peers and the world’s poison they can teach each other without any proper loving guidance. Thank you so much for your time and thoughtful direction and any words of advice, “Sister B”
The following is an excerpt from a letter from Suzanne Slupesky, who wrote to me in response to the last newsletter. It is reprinted with her permission.
Hi Heidi… Thanks as always, for your news.
I want to encourage you in the mom thing. I was a stay-at-home mom to my 2 boys who are now almost 25 and just-turned 22. I know how “daily” the daily grind is, and when you are in the middle of it, it seems like it will last F-O-R-E-V-E-R. I remember those days well. Continue reading
“Adoption is the sweet fruit that miraculously falls from bitter trees.” (The Call to Adoption, p.153).
I was up early this morning, thinking and praying about a letter I received from a distraught mother, and the little boy she and her husband adopted from Guatemala… we’ll call him “Juan.” This mother “Melody” has a chronic illness, and three biological children who are all under the age of 10. Still, they wanted to adopt. The family labored for three years to bring little Juan home … then discovered he had a history of sexual abuse and neglect. Continue reading
The following letter of thanksgiving was sent to me from Monica Pope, in response to this month’s EMN newsletter, and is reprinted with permission of the author.
Dear Heidi,
I’m happy to know God gives you employment opportunities that bless your family’s special needs, too. Recently, we’ve received the same here. With my husband’s significantly reduced work hours, we were feeling like Elijah’s widow, thinking, “A handful of meal, a little oil. We may eat it, then we die.” Then I got a wonderful job as a DRE at a nearby parish. I love the job and especially love the requirement that I write a weekly article for the bulletin. But I’m triply grateful because they let me work opposite my husband’s schedule and around our youngest child’s early intervention school and therapy schedules.
These days, we’re recommitted to trusting God all the more as next week, my husband will be laid off from his steel mill job indefinitely. With seven of our ten kids still living at home, this will be a challenge. But the Lord is teaching us to pray for this day our daily bread. Similarly, we ask the Blessed Mother to pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Since this seems to not be the hour of our deaths, we’re focusing on remaining open to Her intercession and God’s graces now. We’re reminded that God has graces for my husband’s unemployment when it happens– next week.
For now, we follow the rules for gathering manna– collect just what we need for a single day.
I’m looking forward to the newsletter at Mother’s Day. And please, when you have time, send criteria for submissions and upcoming themes. I’d be honored to offer something for submission.
Much Peace and Many Blessings,
Monica Pope
Extraordinary Moms Network 