I'm writing this post early before every gets up, because during the day I have very little free time. I can't even write a two-paragraph e-mail without being interrupted literally 5 times. My apologies for not responding to e-mail or to calling.
To help us feel better, I keep in mind the things we have done right. (The list of things we've done wrong would exhaust the internet.)
Some of the things we got the boys were right. The boys love:
-- their stuffed dogs ("kooche" in Bulgarian) we got from Ikea
-- we got matching red caps for the family and Elisey in particular loves his
-- the boys love music and for the most part they love their Android tablets we got for them. They are too complex to handle, however, especially for boys who continually push buttons, so we will soon look for much simpler devices. The basic idea however was great
-- simplifying the house. We began this before we left for Bulgaria, and while there swiftly realized we would have to simplify even further. Every one has recommended this, and it appears we are ahead of the curve on this one thing.
Some things we have learned along the way
-- toys for younger children (friends with similar experiences, as well as books, suggest this too). Age-appropriate toys are too frustrating, so we get Fischer-Price toys for 2-3 year olds. These work much better, and are in part why we are discouraging gifts from friends and family right now.
-- they love airplanes, especially Elisey.
-- they love phones and housekeeping tasks. In part this must be because this is mostly saw at the orphanage: caretakers cleaning, cooking, and yakking on cellphones. Their favorites toys are a toy tea set and toy cell phones designed for 2 year olds. (Elisey also liked to play with the kitchen dustpan and handbroom, until he broke the latter.)
Some things have taken time. They were too agitated at first to sit down to draw, but the last few days we have gotten them to spend some time each day scribbling with crayons. Often Elisey wants me to "help" him draw. This is very calming, except when the boys clash over crayons or paper, so we will try to keep this up. Also I got the boys a mini basketball hoop, which they ignored for weeks, until Elisey watched a pickup game at the park, and now he is more interested in playing with the ball; much better than breaking brooms!
Here are pictures of the boys on their toy cell phones.
