You Just Never Know

You just never know what a day will bring. I ate breakfast in the hotel alone as Carson would not leave the room. We then went to the Imperial Palace. He seemed fine until we got inside. He refused to do anything and started being pretty physical with Keith again. He took his coat off and tried several times to take his shirt off as well. Our guide sat and talked with him for a long time while she held his wrists. He told her that because he didn’t want to be there, he didn’t want us to enjoy it either. I am very glad we nixed the museum and went to the zoo instead a couple of days ago. I hate all the negative touching this child is receiving but there doesn’t seem to be much choice in public when he acts out. He just trembled in the cold. Keith was finally able to pick him up and we left. Although we would have liked to have seen more of the Imperial Palace, it is small and we have already been to the Forbidden City in Beijing.

We had planned to go to Wal Mart again to try and buy a new camera and some other things. I asked Maggie to ask him if he wanted to go. Thanks heavens he said yes and that Maggie went with us. It was a complete switch. He stayed with us, happily chose more books and some dvd’s, joked around putting other things in the basket. He was like a different child. When we left the store to walk back to where the van was parked, he slipped his hand in mine to cross the street. I think that he knows exactly what he is doing. However, I think once he gets into it, it must be hard for him to climb out. Sort of like a cry that start small and then you don’t know how you got to those great big gasping sobs. It’s easy to get so angry when it is purposefully hurtful but then I remember how hard this might all be for him.

He watched a video in our room and then we ventured out since it wasn’t freezing ( I also bought gloves!). A few blocks from our hotel was a street with little carts and small vendors. He spotted a stuffed panda that we bought. He was great at figuring out the money as we couldn’t tell what the woman was saying and the price was not posted. We bought things at a couple of other vendors and he always did the money. As we walked back to our hotel, he kept playing with his panda. It climbed up trees and took rides on his head. It was hairy for a moment when it set off a car alarm as Carson danced it across the hood of a car. We certainly were stared at then! He asked again to see Nina, the girl adopted by the Kaden’s as we passed their hotel. When we said they weren’t there, he seemed satisfied and we kept going.

Keith and I played some Uno and Carson watched some cartoons. He kept coming back to us and hugging in between episodes on the dvd. I just don’t know what to think. I am braced for more poor behavior as we are scheduled to see a tomb tomorrow. At the moment, he is sitting on the back of my chair combing my hair. From lovebug to wild child in the blink of an eye and back again!

Three more days in Shenyang. We fly to Guangzhou on the evening of the 2nd.
12 days down and 7 to go……..