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Help[Games] Re: Application: Barnes Family
in reply to a message by Siân
Please welcome Artem Uladzimir! Artem is a 14 year old boy hailing from Belarus. He was raised by his father after the death of his mother in a car accident shortly after his birth, but his father died in 2010 after being beaten during a protest of the election. Artem witnessed the beating and suffers from PTSD as a result. He has been in a state-run orphanage since his father's death, and is very excited to finally have a new home, although he misses his dad very much.
Artem is shy at first, but loves to chat once you get to know him. His first language is Russian, but he has been studying English for several years and picking it up quickly. He is a very active child and loves running and playing any sort of sport.
Please let us know how Artem is doing in your home!
~Norah
Artem is shy at first, but loves to chat once you get to know him. His first language is Russian, but he has been studying English for several years and picking it up quickly. He is a very active child and loves running and playing any sort of sport.
Please let us know how Artem is doing in your home!
~Norah
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Artem came home with us to Brighton Beach with hesitant smiles and few words, but over time, he's been allowed to open up a bit.
James enrolled him in a mixed martial arts class that includes teaching him elements of boxing, taekwondo, and krav maga. He's been a very natural learner of the sport so far. James and a few friends who have their own children (some around Artem's age) have all come together and they've been playing softball in the park about once a week and he's learning and enjoying it so far. (They've even gotten me to play a few times and I've never been a fan before.)
We recognize that sometimes it's good to get away and have space and quiet time to yourself. Because of this, we set his room up with a desk and shelves that create a kind of alcove for him to "hide away." He's mostly used the space to read books (okay, fine, it's a tablet, but still) and play games on his computer so far.
Artem has been enrolled in a schooling program that allows a personal teacher to meet wth him each school day. We made sure he received a teacher who spoke both English and Russian fluently because we want him to be able to fully learn in whichever language he prefers. On top of that, I found him a therapist who speaks both languages. As a native Russian speaker who lives in an English speaking world, I know firsthand how some things can be better expressed in one language than another. We wanted him to be able to express himself however he felt best.
He's Liho's favourite person. The cat that used to be my extra shadow is now often found sitting on Artem's desk or in his lap while he hangs out in his room. I think they're both quiet and introspective so they understand one another.
Overall, he's finding his place. He's opening up and we can talk easier than we did when he first joined us. He's started sharing stories of his childhood with his father and his old school and friends. We hope to get to a point where these things are less painful for him to talk about and we are able to help him remember his biological family and his Belarusian upbringing in comforting and honoring ways.
((Thank you. You're the first person to really pay attention to what I requested. I always say the things I did in the form and still magically end up with a toddler from India or a French baby. Idk. Thank you.))
James enrolled him in a mixed martial arts class that includes teaching him elements of boxing, taekwondo, and krav maga. He's been a very natural learner of the sport so far. James and a few friends who have their own children (some around Artem's age) have all come together and they've been playing softball in the park about once a week and he's learning and enjoying it so far. (They've even gotten me to play a few times and I've never been a fan before.)
We recognize that sometimes it's good to get away and have space and quiet time to yourself. Because of this, we set his room up with a desk and shelves that create a kind of alcove for him to "hide away." He's mostly used the space to read books (okay, fine, it's a tablet, but still) and play games on his computer so far.
Artem has been enrolled in a schooling program that allows a personal teacher to meet wth him each school day. We made sure he received a teacher who spoke both English and Russian fluently because we want him to be able to fully learn in whichever language he prefers. On top of that, I found him a therapist who speaks both languages. As a native Russian speaker who lives in an English speaking world, I know firsthand how some things can be better expressed in one language than another. We wanted him to be able to express himself however he felt best.
He's Liho's favourite person. The cat that used to be my extra shadow is now often found sitting on Artem's desk or in his lap while he hangs out in his room. I think they're both quiet and introspective so they understand one another.
Overall, he's finding his place. He's opening up and we can talk easier than we did when he first joined us. He's started sharing stories of his childhood with his father and his old school and friends. We hope to get to a point where these things are less painful for him to talk about and we are able to help him remember his biological family and his Belarusian upbringing in comforting and honoring ways.
((Thank you. You're the first person to really pay attention to what I requested. I always say the things I did in the form and still magically end up with a toddler from India or a French baby. Idk. Thank you.))
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