Muluken - Amharic "the day I got all I wanted" or "full day"

When we received our referral for Muluken, I was pronouncing it more like "Muligan" except "Mulukin". But then I asked for help on the pronunciation and found out that I was totally wrong. His name sounds like "Moo" "Loo" "Ken". The /u/ sound is long.

Then, I found out what Muluken meant. "The day I got all I wanted". That was just heartbreaking. Here, his birth parents named him for everything they wanted but we were probably not part of that thought plan. He is such a special soul and has brought out so many new emotions to me.

I have always wanted to adopt but for years would look into it and then push the thought out of my head. We were licensed for foster care and still nothing happened for us. Adoption was still ringing in my ears but not so much for Brad. But, I couldn't get the thoughts out of my head. A lot of soul searching on both of our parts, a lot of discussion with the kids, and a lot of tears. We finally sent in our application.

Of course, we switched agencies and signed on with Holt in July of 2009, because our previous agency was quoting up to a 2 year wait for just a referral. So, I kept searching. I found our little boy on the Waiting Child listing. We saw his precious picture and read his file. We were matched with Muluken on July 23, 2009. Jordan's 11th birthday. I'll never forget the day! I got the call after 5pm and just started screaming and squealing and jumping around.

Now, I look back on the meaning of his name: The day I got all I wanted. That's exactly what I was feeling that day. That's exactly what I feel on the good days.

The days I struggle with Muluken is hard. Really hard. When he's upset, he shuts down. No tears. No words. He just looks down and pouts. He doesn't look for consoling. He doesn't look for a hug. He just stands there. Limp. It's so hard to try to reach out when he doesn't reach back. We're trying to get him to talk to us. Let us know what's going on. What's wrong. We usually can figure out what set him off, but trying to get him back to his happy self is really draining. I try to find my patience and help him work through it, but, I begin to become frustrated. It didn't seem to be so hard with my other kids. But then again, when they get upset with me, they yell back and that gets to me too. UGH!!

I pray to figure out this little man. I pray that he forgives me when I lose my patience. I pray that he learns to trust us and talk to us. I pray that this too, shall pass.