We had vastly underestimated the problem in communicating with the older boys, who can get quite frustrated that their parents don t understand all of what the y are saying. Our lifesaving move was convincing the American Embassy in Budapest, Hungary, to allow Edit, the wonderful orphanage caregiver who raised Willie and the twins since birth, to come to America and stay with us for a while to ease the transition from the orphanage. She doesn t speak much English yet, but we v e worked out a language all our own. Our full-time job at this point is keeping the kids alive. Children who grow up in traditional homes learn the danger areas of life gradually.
Stoves are hot.
Knives are sharp. Hot water can hurt you. Look both ways . Not these kids, who are exploring their new world with careless abandon. Their world never had hot things, sharp things or dangerous things.