Halfway Around the World

Tomorrow morning we leave for Korea – my son, a Korean adoptee and me, his adoptive mom. I lived in the rainbow and unicorn world for many years, through the adoption process and long into his childhood. We had fun, checked all the joyful boxes, all of them and more, with zest and love.

Life got more complicated as he got older – bigger kids, bigger problems, everyone knows about this – and I was neither prepared or equipped. Am I now? No, I am not, although I have scratched the surface and found a deep, rich vein of resource. Podcasts, books, people, vocabulary, awareness, kindness, recognition, people, stories and vast reserves of love.

For years and years I have wanted to go to Korea and he said no. Okay, not ready, maybe never. That is for him to decide. Now the stars have aligned for reasons unknown and, magically, the timing feels very right. Earlier would have been off. We were both untethered, off-kilter, possibly desparate (me), possibly too young (him). In Beth Syverson‘s words, I walk beside him on this journey although, to be frank, I hope to walk a few paces behind him in Korea. Quietly.

Korean Street Toast is on our agenda. It’s a sandwich, from what I understand, a sandwich you buy and eat on the street. Yes, I want to learn ALL about Korea, anxious over-achiever that I have been trained to be. YES, this is a long time dream. YES, rainbows and unicorns are lurking. Should we get there and eat that toast together, that’ll be gravy on my mashed potato heart. Score.