节目资讯
刊物:空中英語教室
日期:2012-03-24
难易度:Medium
关键字:agency, acceptance, figure out, rewarding, realization, awesome
Welcome back from the break.
You know, adopting a child, the process of doing that, can perhaps be compared
to a roller coaster ride.
There are a lot of ups and downs.
Aaron Heidel, the father of four adopted children, knows this firsthand.
Aaron just mentioned one of the downs all adopting couples experience.
And that is having to wait.
Let's wrap up our interview with Aaron right now down on line 14.
(Music).
Adopting Children.
Once we had approval, we needed to change the kids' last names and update their
records.
What was most challenging about adopting?
Parenting in general was and continues to be challenging.
It's hard to figure out how to raise healthy kids.
The added thing with adoption is getting the kids to understand their adoption.
Our policy is to be very open about it, so they don't have to deal with the
shock of realization.
What is most rewarding?
Having kids is the rewarding part.
Kids are awesome.
They change your priorities - usually in a good way.
(Music).
OK. So we've seen the process that Aaron and his wife went through to begin
adopting their children.
Now once they had the approval that they were waiting for, then they needed to
change the kids' last names and update their records.
That's right.
We said they had a trial period.
That means they had to wait for the acceptance.
And when we say the acceptance and the approval, that's the same thing.
Right. Approval is the same thing saying that everything is OK for them to
officially adopt the baby.
So then Kaylah, we see they want to change the child's last name and their
records.
That's right.
That means they officially become a part of the family legally.
So you change their last name because, just as we all know, if you're in the
same family, you have the same last name.
Exactly. In Western culture, it is very common for people to have the same last
name as both of their parents.
And of course, they want to update their records showing that it is official
that the children are theirs.
That's right. So the birth certificate and all of their legal paperwork is
changed over, so now they're officially a part of the family.
Well, Studio Classroom asks: What was the most challenging... What was most
challenging about adopting?
What is the hardest part?
Yeah. This is a great question because adopting can be very challenging.
It can be difficult.
Now how does Aaron answer this, Kaylah?
He says parenting in general was and continues to be the biggest challenge.
Now that makes sense.
Raising a child is definitely the hardest part about adopting because you do
take someone in, and you're responsible for them, for their life really.
Yeah. Well, parenting a child in general can be a challenge.
But there are some unique challenges to adopting.
And we'll see what that one is here first.
He says it's hard to figure out how to raise healthy kids in general.
How... how do you figure that out?
Nobody gives you a book.
There's nothing you can just read that says "The Easiest Way to Raise A Healthy
Child." That book does not exist.
So thank your parents for raising you well.
Exactly. And that is something that every parent needs to figure out.
If you "figure something out," that means that you have finally understood how
to do something.
So they need to understand, try over time to understand how to raise healthy
kids.
Now the added thing with adoption is getting the kids to understand their
adoption,
to help them understand that you are a part of our family, you are fully
accepted, but this is not where you started.
Exactly. And kids... uh, some parents have to decide if they want their kids to
know that, how much they want their kids to understand at what age.
And so that's something that parents would need to figure out.
Now "our policy," this is Aaron - their policy is to be very open about it so
that they don't have to deal with the shock of realization.
Some adoption families don't tell the kids their adopted until way later in
life, and it's very hard for them to grasp that realization.
Exactly.
Now the word "realization" here is referring to when you finish or when you
finally understand something,
or actually it could be also beginning to understand something as well.
That's right.
Now most of the families I know are very open with their kids that they are
adopted.
For example, my roommate is actually adopted, and her family is very open about
it.
Yeah. And now this is a great point is some children might grow up, who are
adopted, and they don't know that they are adopted.
And when their parents finally tell them, that can be a shock.
That's right. And a shock is something that is very surprising.
Well, Studio Classroom's final question is: What is most rewarding?
OK. This is a great question.
Now the word "rewarding" here is referring to something that makes you feel
satisfied for what you have done.
And so the parents here, they might be satisfied by something, we want to know
what that is.
Aaron says having kids is the rewarding part.
Kids are awesome.
Now this is a great point.
They are adopting these children; they want the children.
But it's more than that.
He says: Kids are awesome.
Now "awesome" means really great, the best, the most amazing.
"You are awesome!" And that's very true.
Yeah. So if you are interested in having children but you can't,
then maybe you could look into adopting children because whether they are your
own kids or someone else's, kids are still great.
They are awewsome.
They change our priorities - usually in a good way.
Well, it's been exciting talking about adoption here with you, Ryan.
But you know, what's really exciting is we got to interview Aaron and his wife.
So let's go check out that interview.
Hello, friends.
Studio Classroom is happy to be back again today with Aaron Heidel.
Yesterday we had the chance to meet the whole Heidel family, and they shared
with us a little bit about their experience adopting children.
Today Aaron is going to tell us a little more about adoption.
Aaron, can you tell us what's the easiest part of the adoption process?
Oh. That's easy.
The easiest part is that you don't have to go through nine months of morning
sickness and pregnancy.
Well, what's the hardest part then?
The hardest part is that you have to go through one or two years of waiting,
never knowing when the child would be picked for you yet.
Aaron, you told us that you're very open about adoption with your kids so that
when they find out they're adopted, it's not a big shock for them.
How has that openness worked with the kids?
How have they responded to it?
Well, they've responded very well.
Um, they love the fact that they're adopted.
And sometimes they want to have other brothers and sisters, so they tell us:
Daddy, Mommy, when can we go to the orphanage and get another kid?
OK, Aaron. Since adopting, have you become more aware of other families that
have also adopted children?
Are you in contact with families that are like yours?
We do, because we have a lot in common now.
We have also met a number of different couples who've adopted.
And some have even decided to adopt because of our example and the example of
other families who have adopted.
It's been great getting to know all these people because they're very special
people.
Aaron, thank you so much for taking the time to share with us about your
adoption experience.
And thank you again for letting us meet with your wonderful family.
No problem.
Hi, everyone. I'm Michelle.
(Chinese).
And learning Enlish is rewarding too.
Make sure you come back next time.
Bye-bye.
We appreciate that, Michelle.
Thank you so much.
While couples adopt children for different reasons, the main reason is because
they themselves are unable to have children of their own.
Adopting a child is a big responsibility requiring just as much attention, care,
love, time and money as a natural-born child would need, and sometimes more.
There are a lot of challenges when adopting a child.
But there are just as many, if not more, rewards.
Friends, have a great weekend, and then join us on Monday for a new lesson.
Take care.