More times than I can count I reminded him to brush his teeth or told him, "No, marshmallows and jello are not breakfast foods." He needed someone to lovingly remove tags from his clothes and inform him that his shirt was both inside and backwards. We made sure he had enough socks and shoes that fit. I'm really glad we were able to let him play with his classmates on the school basketball team. He played with heart and was a valued member of the team.
Yoon learned very quickly that Dave is the fun parent and can be counted on to play a board game or say yes to screen time. Yoon really enjoyed playing board games, especially Settlers of Catan, Risk, Phase 10, and Ticket to Ride. I will miss there be an extra person to play. Linus needed someone who could push back against his antics and require him to compromise more. I won't miss them fighting like brothers in the car.
As an only child, I think Yoon really enjoyed having siblings. Yoon especially grew close to Robin. Yoon was often seen holding Robin's hand while walking, lifting him up, or making sure he had his coat. Robin learned quickly that Yoon was good for comfort and a snuggle.
Yoon doesn't have cousins close to his own age. There are lots of Dimock cousins. He really enjoyed joining us for Dimock gatherings and blended right in with all the kids. Yoon also got to hold his first baby, my newborn niece, Julia.
I introduced Yoon to baking. He was a quick study and constantly asked to bake. Good thing I like to bake, especially during the holidays. It was honestly nice to have someone in the kitchen who was an actual help instead of added stress. I taught him how to crack an egg, measure flour, using measuring cups and spoons, use a mixer, and even how to simply boil water.
Yoon was in our middle school choir. For the Christmas Pageant, the choir was fitted with formal wear -- black dresses and pearls for girls, tuxes with cumberbuns for the boys. I told Yoon I needed to take his picture and he balked. I told him in no uncertain terms, "In America, if you wear a tux, you get your picture taken in front of the Christmas tree." He obliged me in exchange for loosening his collar after the picture. I need to send these pics to his mom.
The last two days were weird and unsettled. We all knew he was leaving and we would probably never see him again. Everyone just sort of pretended it was just a normal week. We did go out to dinner the last night at his favorite restaurant, SanMaru (Korean bbq). Packing was interesting. His complete disorganization was almost comical. Two days later the house definitely feels different and a little more empty without Yoon.
I admit it was exhausting at times to have to parent one more child. Mostly it was logistical because we didn't live close to where he was dropped off after Korean school. But really, other times he made things easier. The kids informed us they would be willing to host an exchange student again. Since we don't live close, I need to wait until pick up doesn't coincide with bedtime. I wondered if it would be weird to have a student live at my house. It wasn't. I teased him about his mean science teacher (me) and I always knew what his homework was. I figure it is preparation for the day when I teach my own kids. I have zero regrets about sharing our lives with Yoon. I hope he feels the same way.
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