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
Category: Family
Happy Day After Mother’s Day to Women Who Mother
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
Let’s Lazer!
All About Zurich
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
The Day We Failed Him
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
Ivy, the Hypoallergenic Hedgehog
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
Two Small Souls
One year ago today, two small, hurting, wandering souls found their way into our living room. To our neighbors, it may seem like this was the day our family grew, and that we had suddenly received that placement call that newly licensed foster parents wait to receive. But that is not the case. More than … Continue reading Two Small Souls
Urban Jungle
This PSA is just for the sake of an update. There are 11. They. Are. Adorable.
Attachment
When one of your new sons draws this picture of you having a bad hair day, wearing your heart on the outside of your body, along with his little brother, whom he is forever protecting….you hang that sucker up and you call it a good day. This thing called attachment is beautiful and messy and … Continue reading Attachment
Pleather Boots
It’s hard to sleep with hand-me-down toddler size 6 pleather cowboy boots on, but when your twenty-seven pound toddler insists on wearing them with his pajamas, there’s no taking them off. We are continually aware of how big of a deal it is to “own” something when you never have. Our five year old says … Continue reading Pleather Boots