foster parenting

Mother’s Day Blahs

I have to be honest: I kind of hate Mother’s Day. It’s not really a day for me. I’m a foster mom, but am I really a “Mom”? I care for children who aren’t my own 365 days a year. I wipe butts and take care of them when they’re sick. I bathe them andContinue reading “Mother’s Day Blahs”

Pippilu Sweetness

Look at this gorgeous creation by my friend Brooke at PippiLu Designs! Sweet with cupcake fabric just because of my blog. It’s a “busy bag,” in which we will keep a coloring book and markers and a book or two and a toy or two. We can grab it any time we are headed toContinue reading “Pippilu Sweetness”

A Cheerful Vegetarian Amongst Us

It’s such an amazing honor to be called “Mom” or any variation thereof. I get a little frisson of joy every time the big kids say it in particular. Even when it’s uttered in a tone of exasperation. Ha! I feel like Miss Kicks has always been a part of our family. Like she wasContinue reading “A Cheerful Vegetarian Amongst Us”

When parents let kids down

Today Tiny had a visit scheduled with her Mama. It’s her standard visit – every other Friday at 1 o’clock. At a meeting last week we discussed the visit with her Mom so she definitely knew about it. Yet today, something went wrong, and Mom didn’t show up for the visit. There could be aContinue reading “When parents let kids down”

Blogging about a teen

I loooove writing blog posts and have so much going on with our new teen. But. I want to respect her privacy! Here’s what I can say about our weekend with her: she’s a nice kid. She adores Tiny and it’s mutual. She seems to fit into our household pretty well. Beans thinks she’s theContinue reading “Blogging about a teen”

Parenting in my mid 40s

Everyone who reads this blog should know by now that I love being a foster parent. It’s not just something I do. It’s who I am. We didn’t become foster parents until I was almost 40. Do I regret not having become foster parents sooner? Yes, yes I do. I sometimes think about all ofContinue reading “Parenting in my mid 40s”

Transracial Adoption Worries

As much as I say I want to adopt a child someday, I am really struggling around Tiny’s future right now. It’s unclear whether she will get to go home or not. Ultimately the decision on whether she goes home is not up to us. Not even a little bit. But I’m living with theContinue reading “Transracial Adoption Worries”

Self Care and Foster Care

Foster care is a rough gig. It’s emotionally taxing x100. On the best days when everything is going well and the kids are great my heart aches knowing it won’t last – kids go home. I flip between trying to protect my heart from the heartbreak I know is coming, and just letting myself loveContinue reading “Self Care and Foster Care”

Work Life Balance as a Foster Parent

It’s 5:30 AM as I’m writing this. People keep asking me how I find the time to blog when I am a foster parent and work, and it is a tricky tricky thing just to foster parent and work full time at the same time, let alone blogging. For 15 years I worked at anContinue reading “Work Life Balance as a Foster Parent”

Why I’m a Foster Parent

I have wanted to be a foster parent for as long as I can remember knowing what foster parents are. I never felt a strong urge to have my own biological children, I wanted to be a safe place for kids who needed one. I remember learning what a foster parent is when I wasContinue reading “Why I’m a Foster Parent”