Three of my daughters are sitting at home with me tonight. The rest of the children went with Super Dad to the annual Christmas party held by our local Department of Human Services. The party is at a local pizza parlor that has many games for the children to play. The machines spit out tickets that the children exchange for candy, trinkets, or dollar-store toys. As you can imagine the children always have a lot of fun there. I really enjoy going every year as well. It gives me an opportunity to catch up with other foster parents that I don’t see very often. I also enjoy seeing all of... more

You have adopted a sibling group and just doubled the size of your family over night. The children you have just adopted range in age from toddler to teenager. Each child has special issues that are being addressed through therapy, school, and family time. Your schedule has changed from having periodic free time to frantic dashing from one appointment to another.

Your friends begin to slip away, one by one, because you no longer have time for them. Your new network includes doctors, therapist, and support group members. You trade in your cute little sports car for a fifteen-passenger... more

I was so proud of my son on Friday night. What teen boy who will be turning 18 next month would want to take his three younger brothers to a movie? I couldn’t believe that he offered to do it. His younger brothers were ecstatic about going with him, even though they had already seen the Transformers movie. They were just happy to be spending an evening with their big brother whom they idolize.

They loaded up in his car and off they went. I waited up long enough to be sure that they were home. They had a great time, enjoyed the popcorn and the movie, so I headed off to bed.

About... more

When Super Dad and I started out parenting, I felt that all of our children should be treated equally. Whatever we did for one child had to be done for every child, (Probably some baggage I carried from my own childhood.), and then we adopted children. A time came when I was compelled to begin homeschooling three of our adopted children.

However, since all of our children needed to be treated equally, I started my first year of homeschooling with seven students and a toddler in diapers. A few years later, I learned the... more

Yesterday evening we took the kids to the park to fly kites, ride bicycles, and kick around a soccer ball.

To me, there is something magical about flying kites. Watching a kite dance in the wind is very soothing to my soul. Who needs meditation, when you can fly a kite instead?

I was more than willing to lie down on the cool and slightly damp, green grass to rest as I held onto the kite string. As I felt the kite tug as if it wanted to go further, I thought of my children and how each one of them has developed.... more

part 2

"Do I give in? Is this too mean? Is it being abusive?" I peppered her with questions. Her replies gave me renewed faith in my decision.

"Does he hoard food in his room?" " No."

"Does he eat until he vomits?" "No, but he takes food with us anytime we leave in the car for anywhere, even if it is a short trip."

"Does he do that because he truly feels he won't be fed again, or does... more

part 1

A few minutes later when I figured I had given him enough time to cool off, I reiterated that he needed to come help by setting the table. He turned his back to me. Slot machine parenting error number two. Micheline set the table for him, and received points toward television time, all within earshot as he sat trying to ignore us.

Everyone else came to dinner and when I told him that he needed to come to the table, he kept his face turned... more

In spite of what Erma Bombeck might have said about being mean, I think I will someday win the "Meanest Mom" award. I was very impressed last week when reading Kelly's foster adoption blog that discussed Slot Machine parenting vs. Coke Machine parenting.

In reading her post, I realized that I too have been guilty of slot-machine parenting when my children misbehave or don't comply... more