June 14, 2016
by Maralee
4 Comments
In case you don’t know, most of what I write is a “note to self” of sorts. This post is not inspired by trying to inform anybody other than the Joy Sucker-in-Chief on the other end of this keyboard. So … Continue reading
March 9, 2016
by Maralee
1 Comment
As parents we all have our pet peeves. There are behaviors in our kids or the kids around us that absolutely drive us nuts. I know some of you parents really hate it when a kid is a tattletale. I … Continue reading
January 15, 2016
by Maralee
1 Comment
I recently wrote a post about how you should talk to your toddlers about foster care. It’s important to me that foster families are having open and honest conversations with their kids about the process and the needs of the … Continue reading
January 14, 2016
by Maralee
Comments Off on Talking to Your Toddler About Foster Care
In my family, foster care is normal. My kids have grown up in a home where caseworkers are their friends, our foster care agency is “the fun place with the ducks” (there’s a pond behind the building), home studies and … Continue reading
April 11, 2013
by Maralee
6 Comments
More than one frustrated mom has looked at her grumpy baby and thought, “If only I knew what you were thinking!” This is the moment where Baby Sign seems like a good idea. I’ve done it with all four of … Continue reading
March 18, 2013
by Maralee
8 Comments
I think we’re doing premarital counseling all wrong. If you want to know if your relationship is ready to handle the difficult challenges of marriage, somebody just ought to let you and your beloved remodel a room in their house. … Continue reading
January 24, 2013
by Maralee
18 Comments
Two adoption truths: 1) Our entertainment culture is full of adoption references and adoption mythology. 2) Adoptees/Adoption advocates have different (and often conflicting) feelings about each one of them. When I first became a parent through adoption I was slightly … Continue reading
January 7, 2013
by Maralee
10 Comments
When Brian and I were houseparenting at a group home I made sure every Christmas I sent a card to each of our boys’ families with a picture of their child. After our first year I also started sending a … Continue reading
December 5, 2012
by Maralee
5 Comments
So I about had a heart attack a couple nights ago and I’d like to share my experience and save you your own personal heart attack later. (note- I’m talking about boys here, but I know girls can have their … Continue reading
October 26, 2012
by Maralee
5 Comments
Much has been written about the things NOT to say to people in my world- what NOT to say to adopted kids, transracial families, foster parents, infertile women, etc. For the most part I am totally behind that, especially because … Continue reading