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Couple, adopted son settle into new routine
Published 2/8/2010 in Local News
By SHAJIA AHMAD
Nine-month old Mason Simmons chews on his felt-covered baby book, playfully jerking it around with his arms before bringing it back to his mouth.
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Tara and Dan Simmons are shown with their son, Mason, nine months, in their Garden City home. The couple traveled to Ethiopia to adopt Mason.
His parents, Dan and Tara Simmons, think his teeth may be coming in soon but they're not sure — they've only had Mason for about two weeks.
Protected inside the soft pages of Mason's baby book are photographs of his new adoptive parents, who sent the small toy to an Ethiopian orphanage last October where Mason lived and which orphanage workers used to familiarize him with the new people who would be entering his life.
It's the only thing belonging to the teething 9-month old that the Simmons couple brought back with them to Garden City after having traveled to and from Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, at the end of January to bring Mason home.
"We don't have a clue about what we're doing," Tara Simmons said, joking. "Most parents don't get (their kids) at 9 months old!"
Their adoption journey began long before Mason was born. The Simmons first tried adopting an American child, but faced nearly two years of unfruitful results and missed opportunities, they said.
According to the U.S. Dept. of State, American citizens are seeking to adopt children abroad in ever increasing numbers, due to the reduction in children available for adoption in the U.S. The process is in most all cases a private legal matter between an individual or couple and a foreign court, which operates under that country's laws and regulations. In 2009, adoptions from China, Ethiopia and Russia were the greatest, according to the State Department.
Along the Simmons' adoption journey, the costs kept rising, as well, and the couple hosted two garage sales at their home on Commanche Drive with the help of friends, family and their church to raise some of the $25,000 needed in adoption and immigration fees.
In August 2008, they turned to Portland-based international adoption agency, All God's Children International, and it wasn't until this past October that they finally got the final call and three photographs via e-mail.
It wasn't a difficult decision.
"He was so cute! How could you say no?" Tara said.
Her husband agreed.
"In my head, we said, well this is it. And the pictures confirmed it," Dan said.
Now back from Ethiopia, everything is new from both sides of the high-chair. Mason will eat only carrots and sweet potatoes, and the couple is perplexed about how they'll get him to try new foods. The Simmons think their new son will begin walking soon — he's already speedily crawling across their hardwood floors — but they're not sure because they've never raised a child before. Mason is scared of the car seat and throws a fit when he's strapped inside — riding around in cars is still pretty unfamiliar for the orphanage-raised infant. And as far as sippy cups and pacifiers? Their new son's never used them before.
And then there's the fact that they're finally parents, after so many years of waiting.
Dan and Tara knew ever since they married in 2005 that they would need to adopt in order to have children. Dan was diagnosed at age 14 with Hodgkin's disease, a type of lymphoma, or cancer.
"Watching him grow up is what we're most looking forward to, how he learns and develops," Tara said. "He's already pulling up on stuff, maybe he'll soon be walking — it's all a little nerve-wracking as a new parent."
Of course, not all the details are yet over. The parents still are working on immigration details to secure Mason's citizenship, and are hopeful their new son will be able to keep both his American and Ethiopian passports. And through the adoption journey, the couple has maintained a blog — danandtarajean.blogspot.com — for family members and friends who've been extremely supportive.
The couple did decide to adopt Mason's orphanage name — Mamush — as his middle name, to "maintain his Ethiopian heritage," Dan said.
"When we were over there, we were trying to be respectful and tell everyone this was our son, 'Mamush,' but everywhere we went most people were like, 'No, what's his new name?'" Tara said and laughed.
Found 1 comment(s)!
Congrats
That is awesome. It has been a long journey, but your faith and resolve have brought a joy into your lives. Have fun.
Posted by: Javi on 2/8/2010