Here in Nizhniy Novgorod, there is a Subway restaurant chain that we have frequented in the last several days. The free internet access is our true attraction to the eatery, but we realized yesterday that beer is served “on tap” at this Subway location. This interesting discovery made a good conversation piece for our skyping experiences with our friends and family yesterday as we experienced another day here in Russia. Beer at Subway? A challenge to our prior knowledge (schema) of Subway that we found quite enjoyable.
Changes occur each day for all of us from the very subtle to the drastic. For example, after a husband and wife have a child, their life as a married couple changes; they become a family unit. With the addition of each child to our own family, our life changed. We anticipated the changes, thought about what it might be like, but not until our new bundle of joy arrived and made himself or herself known to us, could we fully comprehend how our life would be different.
When Angelo was born, our life changed. We experienced parenting a child with Down Syndrome, something that we never thought we would face. Kenny and I experienced a roller coaster ride of emotions during the early weeks of Angelo’s life, until one day, the change to our family was no longer new. We adapted to having five children, one with special needs (that are identified by definition), and our life is better because of it. Angelo is truly a gift from God…and a challenge that has created positive change to our family norm.
So this time, we choose a child with Down Syndrome willingly. We know that our life will change once Julianna is living in our home and experienced enough as parents to know that this will be a challenge to our current norm…but definitely one that is worth the pursuit.
Beer at Subway? Just a challenge to what we know as the American norm. It is the Russian norm. It’s all a matter of perspective.
Changes occur each day for all of us from the very subtle to the drastic. For example, after a husband and wife have a child, their life as a married couple changes; they become a family unit. With the addition of each child to our own family, our life changed. We anticipated the changes, thought about what it might be like, but not until our new bundle of joy arrived and made himself or herself known to us, could we fully comprehend how our life would be different.
When Angelo was born, our life changed. We experienced parenting a child with Down Syndrome, something that we never thought we would face. Kenny and I experienced a roller coaster ride of emotions during the early weeks of Angelo’s life, until one day, the change to our family was no longer new. We adapted to having five children, one with special needs (that are identified by definition), and our life is better because of it. Angelo is truly a gift from God…and a challenge that has created positive change to our family norm.
So this time, we choose a child with Down Syndrome willingly. We know that our life will change once Julianna is living in our home and experienced enough as parents to know that this will be a challenge to our current norm…but definitely one that is worth the pursuit.
Beer at Subway? Just a challenge to what we know as the American norm. It is the Russian norm. It’s all a matter of perspective.