Our new stove was just delivered yesterday. Before leaving, the nice deliveryman asked Kevin, "You babysittin' these guys?"
To which Kevin proudly replied, "No, they're ours. They're our sons. From Ethiopia."
And that's when he answered...
wait for it...
"Oh, so it's a Brad and Angelina kind of thing."
Huh.
Quick-thinking man that he is, my husband came back with, "Nope, we were first. They copied us."
Times like these remind me why I can't stand celebrity gossip, nor the utter fascination/disdain that we commoners have for rich famous people. And, it's true, we began our adoption before news EVER broke about the more well-known adoption (though they received their child first, since the news didn't come out until they were about done.)
Anyway, we're probably nothing like Brangelina. And I just wanted to clear that up, in case you thought otherwise. (Quick clarification--I think it's great that she has adopted these children, and raised awareness about these countries. It's not the celebrities who annoy me, it's the obsession our society has with them, and the consequent idea that anything we do that is related to something they did, must have been inspired by them. There really are a lot of people out there who don't hang on every word of People magazine and who do things for reasons of their own, dangit! :) )
19 comments:
oh my goodness. when mike's grandpa found out about our adoption of amanda, he said to me, among other things, "oh, so you are going to be just like angelina." fortunately, my father-in-law was right there and quickly said, "don't even compare kristen with angelina!" yeah, it kind of stinks how people start to think you are doing something because a celebrity did something similar. i'm glad angelina's kids have a home and family. but i hate that people would think i'd do something because she's my hero, because she certainly isn't!
Wow.. how did you know? That's exactly why we choose Vietnam! Come on Brianna.. you knew that!
It's because you and your family are so gorgeous, it had to invite the obvious comparisons to "The Pitts"
I hear your on the preoccupation over celebs. I quit watching the Oscars, thinking, why aren't there more nurses/librarians/sanitaion workers, etc getting acclaim for what THEY do? I rely on them a whole lot more than someone's "riveting performance!"
Exactly! There are few things that grate on my nerves more than the Brangelina comment. Yep, we wanted to be Just. Like. Them. so we went to Ethiopia. It has nothing to do with our hearts for children or following God's leading.
And, yeah...People Mag and the like, all the celebrity worship, makes me gag a little. Who cares?
Um, not to mention the fact that our country worships a "SuperFamily" who can't even make the commitment to get married after this long...and although I think they have brought some positive attention to the fact that kids in all countries need to be adopted, I also get tired of the fact that she is referred to often as a "Supermom"...you gotta know they've got a few nannies around to help part of the time...
We're probably going to start the process again this year, and I'm already tired of the comparisons we are getting to the Brangelina's of the world since our children will not be from the same countries.
It's kinda funny. I'm sure the guy felt really bad about it later when he replayed the exchange. I usually compare you guys to Madonna anyway. :)
You know what's odd, though, is that this African adoption trend is really sweeping through a good portion of American Christianity, at least in certain spectors. Now I will always say that adoption is great and even that it should happen more, but trends are trends, whether we pick them up from celebrities or from church families or from a community at large. I don't know many Christian families with American-adopted kids, but I sure know of and hear about plenty who have adopted from Africa. Is it the "thing" to do? I don't know, but it's an interesting trend, to be sure.
I agree with your disdain for our society's preoccupation with celebrity families - if most of society spent as much time worrying about their own families as they do hanging on every speck of celebrity gossip, I have to believe things would be different!
FANtastic. I love it. Let's be serious, you're pretty hot Brianna...like Angelina. And you buy organic food. I bet she does too. So, really, you guys are exactly alike.
I am fascinated by your appliance delivery men stories! Who knew that they could be so entertaining!!! YOu need to buy new stuff more often!
Ha! I got my first Brangelina comment the other day. I was surprised that I had such a tough time laughing it off. I felt the need to go back and verify that this individual didn't actually think that we were adopting based on celebrity gossip. I didn't bring it up again though.
The next time someone says it I'm going to act as if I have no idea who they are talking about.
Briven? Kerianna? Kevanna? How would that look as Brangelina? :)
Oh my goodness. It is so rare today to find people who think before they speak!
I, too, am totally burned out on the hero-worship that seems to have taken over our culture. It happens not only to celebrities, but politician and other leaders too. I find it sort of sad and disturbing. It's almost as if the majority have forgotten how to think for themselves.
Your family is so beautiful and you are way cuter the Brangelina!
Monica
I found your blog linked from Grace's. Anyway, I'm so glad your husband was quick with his answers :). We have a son from Ethiopia and two bio kids, and plan to adopt more. It never ceases to amaze me what people will say... Someone said to me, the other day... "well, we plan to adopt when it's less trendy." Sooo, she's inferring that we adopted b/c it's "trendy"???? My parents adopted 3 orphans from Romania loooong before it was trendy! ARG!
Just a note to say "I get it" :).
Take care!
becca
(www.expandingalbertsons.blogspot.com)
Brianna! I can't believe that guy! I would have been SO mad if I were you. I just think it shows how ignorant he is. I'd really hate to think that people are adopting just because celebs are doing it. LAME!
loving all your comments!
gretchen, i do have to say that i hardly think african adoption is the "thing to do"--statistics don't lie and it remains at a much lower percentage than eastern european or asian adoptions. (i won't get into the "why's".) it DOES have a large blog presence, perhaps that makes it seem more common? and if it IS gaining popularity among the church...then PRAISE THE LORD that the church is finally responding to the AIDS/orphan crisis in africa!!!! AND, if it truly IS the thing to do...i know a whole lot of children sitting day after day waiting for a family!
there truly are so very many needs. for us, we knew what the alternative was for an orphan in africa. there IS no foster system, or welfare, or medicare. there ARE children begging on the streets, living in the sewers, and eventually turning to prostitution. and ultimately, africa is where God called us to go.
i have had people ask why we wouldn't care for "our own" first. right away i wonder if THEY have adopted domestically. usually they haven't. if someone has a strong heart or conviction concerning domestic adoption/foster care, then i would encourage them to pursue that.
i cannot imagine adopting simply to follow a trend. nor do i know anyone who has done so. that seems really ridiculous to me. when we began the process i didn't know anyone who'd adopted from africa. and angelina HAS made the ethiopia program much more popular. this has its pros and cons but bottom line many, many more children are finding homes. not because people are aspiring to be like a famous person, but because they've been made more aware about ethiopian adoption.
okay i need to get off my soapbox now. :) we're having another delivery on friday...what will happen next??? :)
Just wanted to add my personal opinon on the African-adoption-popularity debate..
Ethiopia and other African nations are not as strict in terms of adoption guidelines. You can adopt a child by 25, as long as you have been married for one year. They are also less concerned about family size than some other nations. The cost of adopting from Ethiopia is considerably less than in some other countries and only requires one trip to pick up your child (or they can even be escorted).
Many people are also attracted to the amazing people and culture and really appreciate the non-institutionalized care the orphans receive.
The "popularity" that African, and specifically Ethiopian,adoptions seems to be gaining is more a reaction to people's awareness of a new area open to adoption and the awareness of the overwhelming needs of orphans due to AIDs epidemic.
Sorry to thread jack, just some of my thoughts.
great thoughts monica. you have a profile now...will there be a blog too??? i hope so! :)
Seriously, this cracks me up. We had a couple approach us on vacation thinking we were actually babysitting Zahara Jolie-Pitt (our Ray Ray)! I've heard that Brangelina comment, too. People are funny.
Hi Brianna- Long time reader first time commenter.:) Regarding the Domestic Vs African adoption issue, I agree Brianna that the conditions are much worse in Africa, especially for girls than here in america. I also feel if you know for a fact that you can open your heart to any race and deal with societies issues surrounding multi-racial families then you should adopt minority kids. We plan on adding to our family through adoption and we have such a open family I feel drawn to bring home kids that others may hesitate to bring home. Sad those people exsist isn't it?
we have gotten this so much! too funny..and we started our process long before they did too, although it's taken us a long time to get to this stage. i always want to say "oh it's my lips, isn't it?"
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