So excited! An essay of mine was published by Kids VT newspaper. It’s a personal essay, which made it harder to write; for all that I maintain a public blog, there are just some things that I am relatively private about. Like my last name. And what I look like. And the size of the bag I carry my childhood memories in. But I’m going to share it all with you, anyway, in spite of myself. Here’s a teaser. As long as you are not a psychopathic stalker, go ahead and follow the link to read the whole story. Comments are welcome! You just have to come back to OINKtales to post them. 😉
My son Henry and I were waiting in the Costco checkout line, having loaded up on paper products, laundry detergent and fruit that had probably spent more time in a refrigerated compartment than growing on a tree. Two Asian children in the cart next to ours eyed Henry and the hunk of muffin he was clutching in his 5-year old fist. One of them pointed at him and said something to a man I assumed was her father in a language other than English.
Henry’s brow furrowed, then he jerked his thumb at the family and announced loudly enough for everyone within 10 feet of us to hear: “They’re talking in Chinese. They’re not from here.”
(Click to keep reading!)
Thanks Kids VT, for giving me this opportunity, and a special shout out to Cathy Resmer who is a gifted editor and likable to boot.
22 comments
Comments feed for this article
June 29, 2011 at 3:35 pm
LSC
Way to go MKB! congratulations on being published and on your excellent article- loved the twist at the end. As a fellow adoptee, I am totally intrigued by “anything adoption”. Have you ever seen a documentary called “adoption” (original, eh?)- it parallels the life of caucasian parents in the process of adopting a child from China and an adult asian woman reflecting on being adopted by a caucasian family…
June 30, 2011 at 7:38 am
Mary the OINKteller
I haven’t seen that documentary! I wonder if it’s on Netflix… I, too, am captivated by adoption stories. They’re more common than I previously thought. We ought to get together and compare notes! 🙂
June 29, 2011 at 4:05 pm
She's a Maineiac
Congratulations! I loved your article. Well done!
June 30, 2011 at 7:40 am
Mary the OINKteller
Thanks, Darla! It was hard to “go there” – to share something truly personal. I know you know what I mean. But I’m glad I did. It makes me want to dig deeper…
June 29, 2011 at 8:25 pm
Alexis
Congratulations on becoming a published author! (Authoress?) It’s a lovely article, warm and thoughtful. And yes it is very brave of you to put yourself out there like that. Way to go!
I was going to tease your Dad about the comb-over and the awesome stash. But I’m still a little bit in love with him because of the horse story so I won’t.
June 30, 2011 at 7:43 am
Mary the OINKteller
LOL! My Dad pretty much looks the same even 35 years later…he’s lost (most) of the comb over but he kept the ‘stach! For my wedding, I begged him to shave off the handlebars. He wouldn’t. But he straightened and shortened them a little. 😉
June 30, 2011 at 9:23 am
Melissa's Meanderings
Congratulations! Great article..it really made me start some thinking as I have a niece in Thailand who will be joining us here in the states in a few months!
July 1, 2011 at 6:57 am
Mary the OINKteller
Congratulations to you, Melissa, on the upcoming addition to your family! The wonderful thing about adoption is that adopted children know that they are really, really wanted. To this day, I appreciate that my parents jumped through all sorts of hoops to get me. Thanks for commenting!
June 30, 2011 at 10:02 am
Tori Nelson
Mary, this just confirms what we already knew. SISTA IS A BIG DEAL 🙂 Love your article!
July 1, 2011 at 7:00 am
Mary the OINKteller
LOL! Thanks, Tori. This may be the pinnacle of my writing career or it may just be the beginning of something else. Either way, I’ll take it. And I’ll keep writing, ’cause like you, I love it (though I wish I were as funny and prolific as you!)
June 30, 2011 at 12:55 pm
ben zlotucha
Great essay! BTW, I just recommended your blog to a Belgian friend of mine who is also a “Bloggin’ Momma”. But hers is in Flemish so I can’t really compare/contrast.
July 1, 2011 at 7:07 am
Mary the OINKteller
Ben, glad to hear from you! Love word of mouth recommendations – thanks for pushing the pig! So you’re fluent in Flemish, now? I’ve lost all my French. Shhh. Don’t tell your mom!
July 1, 2011 at 12:29 am
lisa
Congrats on getting published! Good article.
July 1, 2011 at 7:11 am
Mary the OINKteller
Thanks Lisa! Hopefully this is the first and the not the last… 😉
July 1, 2011 at 3:57 am
Lisa Z
Three things, Mary:
1. BRILLIANT story! Thank you for sharing your side.
2. Now that I have a daughter, I am constantly in awe of people who open their hearts to adopt children. The love that they have to give is clearly so great and you were a very lucky girl indeed.
3. Growing up in VT “in the 80’s.” hahahahahaha Yes, let’s call it the 80’s… after all 50 is the new 40!! 🙂
Really well done my friend. Keep it up!
July 1, 2011 at 7:18 am
Mary the OINKteller
Lisa Z, you’re so right about people who open their hearts to adopt children. It takes a special kind of soul. And I’m on the side of nurture in the nature vs. nurture debate – I am so clearly my mother’s daughter! P.S. We are definitely calling it the 80’s…the alternative is not appealing in the least!
July 1, 2011 at 7:36 am
Kristen
Congrats Mary! What a great story! Out of the mouth of babes at Costco. I forget with my kids that a lot of their words come from honest curiousity. My oldest use to tell me all the time ( and just confirmed it’s still true) that he wanted to adopt a baby. Someday, I hope to be the proud loving grandparent of a beautiful adopted baby, no matter where they come from in the world.
July 4, 2011 at 6:42 pm
Mary the OINKteller
Adoption is wonderful and it would be so great if you added a grandchild (or child?) to your family that way! We thought about adopting too…but I’m feeling pretty much like 3 is the magic number. 😉
July 1, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Cathy Resmer
Thanks for the shout-out, Mary. You’ve gotten quite a few compliments from the Kids VT/7D team, too. Well done.
If anyone would like to respond or write a letter to the editor to Kids VT (me!), please send it to feedback@kidsvt.com. We’d love to print any discussion about this essay in our August issue.
July 4, 2011 at 6:43 pm
Mary the OINKteller
Excellent! Hear that peeps? Please email Cathy if you want your comment/response printed in Kids VT!
July 1, 2011 at 3:41 pm
Liz
Congrats, Mary! Wonderful essay!!
July 4, 2011 at 6:44 pm
Mary the OINKteller
Thanks Liz! I’m still buzzed about it.