Parent’s University: Interview with Heather Whittaker Pt. 1

Posted on 06.12.08 in Parenthood Parents University and there are 6 comments.

I recently had the opportunity to interview Heather Whittaker, possibly the coolest mom in the blogosphere.

She’s the mother of three kids - two girls and a boy (who was adopted from Korea two years ago), she takes her laptop to scrapbooking parties, she traveled to Uganda to save children, she does amazingly creative Family Fun Nights and she’s inspiringly open and honest (as you’ll see in this interview).

You can see why I love reading her blog…

(Oh yeah, and she’s pretty much blog royalty in these parts. Her husband is blog King Carlos aka RagamuffinSoul.)

I hope you enjoy this interview.

1. What started your adoption journey?
Oprah…
We had always said we would like to adopt, but I think most couples say that. In a course of 3 weeks we saw two episodes on Oprah that highlighted orphans in Africa and China. It made us begin to talk and realize that this was more than just something we wanted to dream about, it was something we needed to START to do. So long story short that is how we began. After that we jumped into the mountains of paperwork and we were off to bring Losiah home.

2. What was the hardest part of adopting? Did you expect that part to be hard? How did you handle it?
Hmm, the hardest part before we brought him home was the paperwork. The filling it out was terrible and exhausting, but the follow up on it just about put me in a loony bin. It was a bunch of paper work going to the government, our adoption agency and Korea.  Many times things were not done correctly, they did not receive it or some kind of drama happened and it frustrated the tar out of me. That was my labor pains. And that is why I am not willing to think about another adoption right away. 
After we brought him home the hardest part would be the fact that I felt like I was babysitting someone’s baby. I love him. I think he is adorable, but I do not feel like he is mine. Which also sucks because I KNOW he is.  However my heart just does not feel it. Now this has changed over time. I feel like he is mine now, I just struggle loving him as much as the girls (my two biological kids) Sorry for being honest. I handle it by loving him everyday. Its a decision that I make everyday.

3. If you could impart one piece of advice to those who are adopting, what would it be?
That’s hard. I would say my only parenting advice adopting or not is… to do what is best for you and your family. There are so many opinions and people telling you what to do it can overwhelm you. I say stick to your gut and what makes you and your family thrive.
Ok Now I take my first statement back I do have advice...Don’t become consumed with the adoption. Focus on your marriage! Make home life the best it can possibly be before the little one comes!
See I do have advice

4. How has the Uganda trip affected the way you parent?
I answered this one last because I am still trying to process all that I saw, learned and experienced in Uganda. It has affected the way I parent because I have really learned how wasteful we are. I get nauseous when I see how much crap they have in their room. Sorry for saying crap I have to remember this is not for my blog, but that is what it is. Junk. Those kids in Uganda had sticks and a tire and it was their prize possession, and mine are complaining that they have to clean their room.  So daily whether it is being wasteful with their meals or complaining because they have to much I get so saddened. Waiting for the day we can all go over there and allow our hearts to change again but this time as a family.

Stay Tuned...

Click here for Part 2. In the meantime, be sure to check out Heather’s blog.

More Parent’s University Interviews

Michael Hyatt - President and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing shares his wisdom from raising 5 daughters and balancing work and family life.

Cindy Seay - mother of 5, including Robbie Seay of the Robbie Seay Band (whose music was featured on American Idol ads and Oprah’s show - The Big Give) offers her advice on raising children who will change the world.

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