The subject of belonging came up for me recently when I listened to a We Can Do Hard Things podcast called “Being Left Out: Navigating that Lifelong Ache.” In the episode, Glennon, Abby, and Amanda talk about the need for feeling like we belong, and how fundamental that feeling is to our survival. In essence,Continue reading “Sunny’s Need to Belong”
Tag Archives: Islam
Islamic Education for Sunny and Sprout
Ever since Sunny came to us and we realized the importance of Islam to the girls’ family, we’ve been searching for the right Muslim community for them. We tried a mosque by the university, but Sunny didn’t have a good experience there and begged not to go back. We asked their family for ideas butContinue reading “Islamic Education for Sunny and Sprout”
How it’s Going
A few updates for y’all: 🎡 State Fair Time! I’ve taken 2 out of 3 kids to the fair so far. One was Sunny and one was a family friend who is 13. A good time was had by all except me, and I survived, so that’s really what matters. The highlights of it wereContinue reading “How it’s Going”
“Do you trust me to be your kid?”
We have lots of conversations lately about what “family” means. Sprout, whose adoption is in the not-too-distant future (in theory anyway), has been super aware of the fact that she’s not a permanent part of our family yet. She’s very insecure about it, and asks almost daily if she can be a part of ourContinue reading ““Do you trust me to be your kid?””
It’s a Birthday. Brace for Impact.
Birthdays for foster kids can be unexpectedly full of strange emotions and events. It’s Sunny’s 9th birthday today, and she’s suuuuper excited. For one thing, her family didn’t really celebrate birthdays so this is an exciting new “English” (non-Muslim) tradition for her. For another, like all kids, she wants to be the center of attentionContinue reading “It’s a Birthday. Brace for Impact.”
Representation Matters, Again
The other morning I found a video of Say Yes to the Dress Lancashire by accident. Well, ok, not really by accident, it’s sort of a guilty pleasure. I simply adore Gok. I think he’s pure magic with women who have body image issues and I’m totally here for it. But I digress. The brideContinue reading “Representation Matters, Again”
Closing in on 1,000 isn’t “lucky”
Sprout has been in foster care 921 days.  By the time we get to court next, it’ll have been 963 days. I am a nervous wreck. I don’t know what to expect in court other than an excruciatingly emotional day. I’ve worked as a lawyer in the system but never got to this stageContinue reading “Closing in on 1,000 isn’t “lucky””
A perspective I didn’t expect to gain
I have to say, waking up and putting on modest clothing and a hijab on Sundays so I can take Sunny to Arabic school is strange. I’m finding it both liberating and restrictive at the same time. I’m on a podcast kick right now, and have been listening to several that feature Muslims living theirContinue reading “A perspective I didn’t expect to gain”
Training, Daily
Every year I’m asked by our agency if I’ve done any “training” on foster parenting. It’s part of our recertification process and I want to talk a little about the training I do almost daily. To become a foster parent, there is a training requirement. It’s a class, which for us was 11 weeks IContinue reading “Training, Daily”
About that “Village” Thing
Twice now I’ve gotten dressed in a dress and a hijab and taken Sunny to Arabic class at her mosque. She’s a sight in her own hijab – bursting with pride about being Muslim and looking pretty all dressed up. I so wish I could share pictures of her – she just radiates joy whenContinue reading “About that “Village” Thing”
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