Mathematic Anxiety

We met Denis (our facilitator's husband) at the French bakery this morning and followed him many blocks to the SDA. The building is located directly next to St. Andrew's Cathedral, but it hardly looks official. There were men working on the grounds with shovels and wheel barrows. The iron gate, with paper signs taped on it, was locked. We waited for about 10 minutes that felt like about 10 hours. Once the guard came and let us in, we were told to wait in a stair well. Then the case worker came and invited us into her office. I was amazed at what I saw. There were a few book cases with binders labeled 2004, 2005, etc. We were invited to sit down and she sat opposite us, with our dossier in her hands. She rearranged the papers in her hands, and I caught a glimpse of a picture. Andrey's face was staring at me through her fingers.

She spoke in rapid fire Russian with Denis. After some words, she began to rub her temples. She looked concerned or frustrated. "Don't panic, Mika. God's got this," I told myself. Then I heard it. I don't speak Russian, but I do know how to count. I heard 33, and I heard 17. My gut sank. Didn't we do this math before? Let me back up- in Ukraine, the law says parents must be a minimum of 15 years older than the children they are adopting. 33 and 17. 33 and 17. I forgot how to do subtraction. Apparently, so did she. Denis got out his cell phone. Who was he calling? Oh wait- he's using his calculator. 33 minus 17. I'll give you a minute to do the calculations. No cheating, please.

You done? Yes, it's 16. We're fine. Josh is 16 years older than Ruslan. Sigh. Of. Relief.

So after our mathematical heart attack, it was all good. She said some things to us which Denis translated. She told us their parents are known and their rights have been terminated. She said they are in good health, although Andrey has a minor health concern. Nothing to worry about. She asked us how we know them and if they know we are coming for them, etc. After our interactions with her, she and Denis spoke back and forth. You always wonder if it's about you or if they're talking about the weather. But in about half an hour, it was over and she told us to come back tomorrow between 3 and 4 for our referral. Then we were asked to sign the official SDA registry, saying that these were the children we want to adopt. I know what you're picturing- an official document, maybe a seal or a notary required. After all the paper chasing we did in Oklahoma- all the notaries and apostilles- in Ukraine, we signed a hand written document on a piece of graph paper in a binder. I had to laugh.

So really, the only stress of the appointment centered around Math. Isn't it always the culprit? If there's one equation I will always remember now, it's 33-17=16. It does. Really. I checked.