This family was first featured in the previous stories, "China Doll: Lana Jaio Mai's Story" and "Just Learn To Love Him: Krithi's Story".
The Colemans live in Louisiana, in the city of Kennedale.
My name is Susan Coleman, and my husband, Seth, and myself, are the adoptive parents of two children, Krithi Seth (he is our youngest; he came to us from India, and he is two-and-a-half), and Lana Jaio Mai (aged 4; she came to us from China). Both our children have brought us joy and blessings, and they have since managed to wrap their tiny selves around our hearts.
We live in Kennedale, Louisiana. I am a housewife, but my husband is a lawyer for people who have suffered personal injury; he represents them, and he makes sure that they get the money in which they are seeking. He also works for people who are seeking disability pay, and he represents them, too. So we never have to worry about money, thank goodness!
Both our children have special needs: our daughter has some developmental delays (for which she is currently receiving help; but she is otherwise perfectly healthy), and our son was born with deformed arms and legs, and he is in a wheelchair. It isn't known whether little Krithi will ever be able to walk independently on his own, but we are hopeful that he will, someday. Krithi is the more seriously impaired of the two; his special needs are more obvious than his sister's.
Krithi and Lana have since gotten used to one another, and they fight like any brother or sister. Krithi isn't one who is willing to share, and he will get mad at his sister if she tries to take away his toys away from him. Krithi is also at that trying stage where he will bite, and we are working hard with him to try to get him to break this annoying habit. We are trying to teach him that biting is NOT nice, and we are also trying to teach him how to share. We don't know if he is getting the message yet, but we hope we do; we are tired of hearing Lana scream and tattling on her little brother again!
It isn't known as to whether we will change Krithi's name or not; Seth, my husband, wants to call him Dillon Seth Coleman, and that is okay, but I rather like the exoticness of his given name, and I think that it goes perfectly well with Coleman. Krithi Seth Raj Coleman is Krithi's full name, and I think it is beautiful. I don't know if I could get used to Dillon Seth Coleman; he doesn't look like a Dillon! He looks like a Krithi with his wild black hair, dark eyes, and wonderfully brown skin, and for now, his name will be Krithi. We decided to call Jaio Mai Lana after my Nonny Lana, who died last year, and that name suits her perfectly. She thinks her new American name is pretty, and she is very happy with it. Her name is Lana Jaio Mai Coleman, and as long as she is happy with it, then that is all that matters. I certainly am because it is keeping the memory of my Nonny Lana alive, and her name will continue to live on, thanks to little Lana.
We may adopt again in the future, but for now, we have to get Krithi and Lana used to being in a family and reassure them that they are now OUR children, forever and ever, and nothing or NOBODY can EVER take them away. They are our "Forever Children", and we are their "Forever Mommy and Daddy". We may want to adopt childdren from Africa or South America, but we probably will wait until Krithi and Lana are a little older; we would like to get them involved in the adoption experience and see why they have brought us so much joy and blessings to our lives. God gave us our two little Miracles from India and China, and we couldn't have asked for two more precious children!
this is a good piece because of its universal nature. the types of feelings that the narrator of this piece express are the types of feelings that are necessary if we are to turn this world around. truly unconditional love is so dififcult to find in these days when more people give lip service to love than actually practice it. work like this gives us the chance to see poetry in motion, lives lived for humanity. you have a prescient eye, miz karen, and i love reading your stories! i'll be bok! LOL
touching...my wife is a special needs teacher...actually, she is a facillitator for the school board now...helps the teachers with their IEPs
Reviewed by Toretha Wright
11/6/2003
Hey! Your short story was fabulous. I like the way you told it - from a mother's point of view. You have a knack of bringing us into the story personally. I could visualize both, Krithi and Lana, in a loving home, smiling. Thanks for bringing a little bit of reality to the world of short stories.
It's almost Christmas. Lynn Basil is writing her last book about a secret entrance into the magical doll land of Sha Bebe that she loves so much. Bagannos have taken over the world! Lynn finally meets her dolls in real life. Can she write in a Secret
The familiar lament of dual-career parents raising children is, "I just can't do it all." The Libra Solution provides an alternative - a more satisfying and sustainable work and life approach - to the overwrought modern day norm.
The familiar lament of dual-career parents raising children is, "I just can't do it all." The Libra Solution provides an alternative - a more satisfying and sustainable work and life approach - to the overwrought modern day norm.
My name is Susan Coleman, and my husband, Seth, and myself, are the adoptive parents of two children, Krithi Seth (he is our youngest; he came to us from India, and he is two-and-a-half), and Lana Jaio Mai (aged 4; she came to us from China). Both our children have brought us joy and blessings, and they have since managed to wrap their tiny selves around our hearts.
