Taiwan Day 14

Today we all took a trip to a few places in the surrounding towns. First stop was a theme park called Window on China. It has miniature displays of many famous buildings and compounds in Taiwan and China, as well as an area for famous landmarks around the world. Evan had his usual bewildered face when we first got there, but was quickly drawn to all the moving miniature boats and trains and all kinds of things. I guess he's favorite would be the display of a little amusement park with a ferris wheel, spinning cups and such. We rode a little train, a little boat, and he even got to sort of drive a little bumper car (a gentler, milder version than the usual). He did well going in forward circles and backward circles. The second stop was at a restaurant by Shihmen Dam that specialized in cooking fish many different ways. Mom is usually pretty critical of food and I think she enjoyed it a lot. Evan did well. He's able to pretty much tell me what he likes to eat by pointing (actually touching) the food on my plate. I've found out he likes eggs, fish, tofu (but not spicy). He eats his vegetables and fruits too. He's a husky kid, so we'll need to eat healthy when we get home. Third stop was the old streets of Ta Hsi. It's actually a really cool place with lots of vendors of food and souvenir. It's a little hard to really shop with the little guy in tow though. We did find a Sponge Bob backpack for him. I will try not to lose it.

Evan was pretty tired by the time we got back to Taipei. He had a few cat naps on the tour bus, but kept getting woken up when we got to our stop. Well, that added up to a grumpy guy. We were all tired and sticky from the humid heat. Toss in the fact that we had to change our hotel room for the last two nights (so it's a strange room to him) and a little bit of bad planning on my part… we had our second major major meltdown/tantrum (are they the same?). He cried and screeeeeaaaaaaamed so loud that it sounded like we were taking him to the slaughter house or something. I was afraid our neighbors were going to complain. We were only trying to give him a shower or bath. Our patience was wearing very very thin. I don't know if we handled it right, but we didn't coddle him at all. We were firm with him that he couldn't throw a tantrum to have his way. It was a long battle. We finally were able to give him a quick shower when he quieted down. 

He has been very very clingy to both of us, maybe more to me. I don't know how much of this is normal toddler stuff or adoptive adjustment issues. He wouldn't let either of us out of his sight. He starts to throw a fit when we walk away, even into the bathroom, unless I tell him firmly where I'm going and he should wait. 

I think and hope that he's learning that when we say something, we mean business. The foster family did warn us that he's a very stubborn kid. When he's good he's great, but when he acts up… yikes. I don't believe I should feel sorry for him because he's an adopted child and coddle him and let him have his way. He needs to know that what we say goes. That's just the way it is.