Happy Children's Day!

Children's Day (orini nal) is a South Korean national holiday celebrated on May 5. It was founded by the Korean children's writer Pang Chong-hwan in 1923 as a way to instill in the children a sense of independence and national pride. Children's Day highlights the dignity of children and their need for love, care, and respect. It is also a day to honor adults that have contributed to improving the lives of children.

We've decided to start celebrating this day every year and what fun we had today kicking that tradition off! If you know anything about me, I'm not nearly as adventurous as I may seem. (Or not seem for that matter!) So I usually don't do a whole lot without my hubby or family with me. Especially try and take two kids to the zoo on my own! But I wanted to do something special with them today in honor of Children's Day (though I would really like to be spending it in Korea!) and we used our zoo passes to spend some quality time together. Despite the 90 degree Texas heat today, we really had a blast! Kids were great and the zoo never disappoints! Zoey was actually home this time last year and there was a lot of talk about this holiday in Korea but being a new family of four, the day sort of passed us by last year! Can't imagine why!

I was inspired by another blog post I saw on this holiday, to make a wish for my children every year.

So this year's wish is for my children to always remember who they are and where they come from and to always be proud of it. That being unique is something to be treasured, and not shy away from.

I'm sad to say that as a little girl, I was made fun of quite a bit. I was different. I wore glasses and my eyes and skin didn't look like everyone else's. And I didn't look like everyone else in my family. But I was okay with that. I never wished that I was like anyone else. I never wished I looked the same as my family. I liked being different. Maybe because my family instilled in me to be proud of who I am. Proud to be unique.

I still get the stares in public when I'm out with two very different looking children, I still have cute little Korean ladies mumble under their breath at me when I don't understand what they're saying. I still have people remark that my English is very good and how surprised they are I don't have an accent. And even when in public with my own parents, people still assume they are my in-laws. I'm sure there are those too who think my kids have different fathers (which, technically, they do!), and may judge me for that. And I'm sure that we've not endured all that we are going to. (Which, lets face it, is not all that bad!)

But my wish for them is that they let it roll of their shoulders like it did for me...that they know that they are loved, cherished and I am proud to be their mother! That they are just as proud as I am to say they are Korean! But mostly, I wish that they both will be proud of being different and unique!

And frankly, who could possibly want children any more adorable than mine?!?!?!