As a foster and adoptive parent for 14 years as well as a birth parent for 25 years, you might think that I have seen or heard it all. It is true that I do not shock or surprise easily and when a child tries to shock me, I usually reciprocate. Sometimes I help or go along with a joke. Thus, my children are likely to tell me or ask me just about anything. Yesterday, my 18-year-old son asked me to help him with a dare. His boss has resigned and today is the going away party. His boss is balding and some coworkers thought it would be funny if Shea cut his hair to look... more

I remember my parents talking about toddlers entering the curtain climber stage and then the terrible twos. It does present a funny word picture if you think about your toddler hanging from the curtains like a feisty kitten. My daughter is almost 18 months old and based on her recent feats; I would say that she has officially entered the curtain climber stage. In the last week, I have had to grab her off the top of one of our computer desk, about 10 times. In our playroom, also known as our library and computer room, we have two large desks. Each desk has a computer and... more

An interesting comment was made at our daughter’s wedding a couple of weeks ago. A neighbor of theirs was attending the wedding. Afterward he and his wife approached me and introduced themselves as my daughter and son-in-law’s next-door neighbor. He indicated how much his family enjoyed having my daughter’s family next door. This neighbor also knows my other adult daughter because she watches her birth sister’s children Monday through Friday. After he introduces himself, he says, “I knew immediately that you were their mother because they look just like you.”

I smiled, agreed... more

A few weeks ago, my two little cousins came over to spend the night with Gracie and me to celebrate the Chinese New Year together. My mother found this poem of an anonymous writer that describes a toddler’s perspective. I could not help but to be reminded of my little cousins and Gracie when I read this poem for the first time. I am sure if you are the older sibling to a toddler brother or sister then you should be able to identify with this.

Toddler Rules of Property If I like it, it... more

While I was away on a youth trip to Schroon Lake, New York for three days Gracie missed me. My mom said she looked at my picture and asked “Where Sissy”? Mom said Gracie would call out “Sissy, Sissy”? and my mom would tell Gracie that I was away and that I was going to be back home in two days or tomorrow or whatever time frame was left on me returning. The thing I thought was most special is she wanted to sleep in my room each night I was away to help her feel like she was close to me even when I was hundreds of miles away from her.

Another... more

Have you ever noticed many strange and amusing things happen when babies are in their highchairs? If you think about it I’m sure you can think of pretty wild things your sibling has done in his or her highchair when you are not looking. Here are a few of Gracie’s antics.

Gracie loves pudding but because it is a sweet we give it to her every once and a while as a treat. Well, this was one of those times when Gracie could have her pudding. She was so excited and leaped for her high chair. She is big enough to... more

Before we adopted Gracie my mom worked at my school as the Director of Development three days a week. After we brought Gracie home from China my mother continued to work in the development office only 10 hours a week but from home. On occasion she will have to go into her office at school and work. She will usually have my Maw-Maw look after Gracie when she does come to school to work. However, one day last week my mom had to go to a development meeting and my Maw-Maw was unable to keep Gracie at home. My mother ended up taking Gracie... more

Two nights ago, Gracie and I had a pajama party in my room while our mom and our dad were cleaning out Gracie’s toy box that sits in the living room. Mom and dad asked me if I could take Gracie in my room and watch her because they did not want Gracie to get upset when they bagged up some of her toys she had out grown so that we could give them to friends with younger children.

During our pajama party I fixed Gracie’s hair and put her hair up in a ponytail. Her hair is finally long enough to pull back. She sure looked cute... more

Last Wednesday my mom took Gracie to Wal-Mart to pick up a few Christmas gifts. Mom typically does not care to take Gracie shopping if she can help it. As you can imagine with a two year old the shopping task becomes a little more difficult. She usually will find more things in the shopping cart then she planned on buying because Gracie will take things off the shelf and put them in the cart when she is not looking. Or there is generally some nice and neat display placed where a two year old will think it is Lego Land and…well, you... more

As a sibling there are times it is really hard to keep your cool when your brother or sister gets into your belongings. Gracie gets into my art supplies, the laundry I fold, my homework and what I am typing on the computer. These are just a few things Gracie gets into. Sometimes I really want to yell at her and that is usually what all siblings what to do to their siblings from time to time.

When I do homework sometimes Gracie will come into my room and jump on my bed. There are times where she will grab a... more