What celebrations are you planning with your adopted children for the Memorial weekend? If you recently adopted a sibling group then they may not know what to expect, if anything on this holiday. You are creating their holiday memories and perhaps their future traditions with their future families by your choices. In areas where we have winter snow, Memorial weekend traditionally marks the opening of beaches and theme parks. We have created a family Memorial weekend tradition of going to Cedar Point Amusement Park in Sandusky, Ohio every year. Super Dad loves... more

I was listening to my favorite Christian radio station this morning. The morning DJs are young adults because the station wants teenagers to listen, so they give them people to whom they can relate. Actually, the music and contests are geared more towards teenagers as well, but I like the music. So, the DJs were talking about Mother’s Day and wondering what some of their listeners were planning to do for their moms. A teenage girl called in and said that her mom didn’t want anything for Mother’s Day. The DJs made a couple of suggestions, which did include housework. The... more

"It's MINE!" How many times has a parent heard that from a 2 year old? Developmentally appropriate, right? What if that same statement is being yelled by an eight year old, however, or a 12 year old? That kind of comment is not uncommon from a child who came from a background where she was never taught how to have empathy and compassion for others.

Perhaps it was never modeled in the home or orphanage, or perhaps it was just a Darwinian type mentality that our children had... more

On the birthparent/first parent adoption blog, Jan asked "What would your t-shirt say about adoption?" Great food for thought, as some that I have thought were cute or inspiring as an adoptive parent, might not be considered either by other members of the adoption triad.

Here's a disgusting one that Mary on the Ethiopian adoption... more

I've pondered the situation at Virginia Tech since I heard it on the news yesterday. What would push someone to commit such a heinous act? How long had Cho Seung-Hui been plotting the killings? Did he have any friends, or did he only have acquaintances? Could many of the deaths have been avoided had they closed down the campus after the first shootings in the dormitory?

As I pondered some of these questions while talking to a friend, she replied, "It doesn't really matter. There's... more

I have been blogging here about our new garden that the kids and I are working on. Since I last posted, we now have onions that have sprouted, and one lone cilantro sprout. Unfortunately, our tomato plants and peppers are not showing any signs of life yet, but from past gardening experiences, I know peppers can tend to be very late bloomers.

Tonight, in my email was an article from the International... more

I wrote here last week about our square-foot gardening endeavor, and wanted to update you on how things are going.

I apologize for being in-absentia for most of last week, but just as the rain that has recently fallen here from the skies over the past few days, we have had some storms brewing in our home as well.

The big, green, jealousy monster has reared its ugly head so bad this week that I wanted to either... 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