An open letter to the Governor of the Great State of Ohio: Have you ever had someone tell you your son wasn’t welcome? Did it crush your parent’s heart (or your pride)? I hate it. I had this happen twice in one week. He’s 9. He’s loving, compassionate, inquisitive, unbelievably resilient, bears physical and emotional … Continue reading Dear Mr. Governor,
Happy Thanksgiving to all the other Trauma Mamas out there. I hesitate to refer to us with that label, but it states a fact, and firmly believing that labeling items appropriately is the best way to create a plan of action, I stand by that. Repeated exposure to adverse childhood experiences has created trauma in … Continue reading Flipping the Holiday Lid
Happy Mother’s Day to Women Who Mother. Happy Day After Mother’s Day to my whole community doing the hard job of orphan care. I feel like today is a much better day to address this day than yesterday. Yesterday, I wanted a nap, solitude, and adult beverages. Today, I can see yesterday clearly. I saw … Continue reading Happy Day After Mother’s Day to Women Who Mother
I LOVE to shoot things. I love time alone with my bigs, too. Man, did we need it!
What a special week celebrating our people and all that we have for which to be thankful. Time is truly the best gift.❤
Been thinking a lot about what a trauma friendly school and community looks like. Our communities are changing one child and family at a time, impacted by heroin abuse, violence or abandonment. I don’t fault the people who don’t know or haven’t yet felt it in their orbit, but I believe we have a job … Continue reading How I Got My Name: Trauma Friendly Schools
Today it's all about Zurich. We spent yesterday traveling across Germany by train and finally landing in the most expensive city for living in the world. The Swiss Francs don't buy a lot, particularly when exchanged for dollars. There is beauty to be found, but the sheer volume of cars that cost the prices of … Continue reading All About Zurich
At the hospital with this little one - he would finally agree to let me hold his hand. June 2015 We had just gotten back from a long family vacation, and waiting nearly a year on the adoptive placement that we believed would complete our family. We received the call at Epcot, and we were … Continue reading The Day We Failed Him
This is new little segment we like to call “Afternoon with Ivy”. This is an all-afternoon, cold-outside rave where 3 small excited people move through the house like migrating birds carrying a small mammal, usually in a pocket or slipper, shouting her name. And before you worry, her built in defenses are adequate … Continue reading Ivy, the Hypoallergenic Hedgehog
At Christmas, we all told each other he was the best gift receiver that ever was. He makes me feel good to be a gift giver. It doesn’t matter what you wrap up and hand to this guy - he could simply die from the sheer joy of it. He will scream, clap, hug you, … Continue reading Best Gift Receiver