September 9, 2020
by Maralee
Comments Off on Every Baby Deserves to be Celebrated. Especially Foster Babies.
A couple months ago my neighbors brought home their premature twins after a lengthy hospital stay. It was a joyous occasion as our cul-de-sac hung streamers from trees and balloons on their porch. We lined the street and applauded as … Continue reading
July 30, 2020
by Maralee
Comments Off on I Am My Foster Child’s Umbrella
I got up early this morning– no easy feat when you’re dealing with the sleep interruptions of having a newborn in the house. I got up early so I could get a child ready for a visit. A quick morning … Continue reading
May 27, 2020
by Maralee
1 Comment
Dear Parents of Foster Parents, I remember when I called my mom and told her I was now raising seven boys– most of them teenagers. My husband and I were working at a group home. We started with four boys … Continue reading
January 28, 2020
by Maralee
Comments Off on Where Was I The Day You Were Born
I’ve tried a thousand times to remember. Every year I think about it again. Where was I on the day you were born? Did I somehow know something momentous was happening in a hospital room on the other side of … Continue reading
January 24, 2020
by Maralee
Comments Off on You’ll Never be Good Enough to Have a Voice. Speak Anyway.
There are people in this world that won’t agree with you. That’s fine. This is life. Some of those people will want to silence you by telling you that you haven’t done enough, experienced enough, advocated enough, marched enough or … Continue reading
December 19, 2019
by Maralee
1 Comment
Every Christmas I have pulled out the ornaments and along with the fancy and the breakable and the milestone ornaments, there is a little group of handmade ones. There are the photo ornaments my oldest son made in his preschool … Continue reading
September 17, 2019
by Maralee
Comments Off on Radio Interview: What keeps you from getting involved in foster care?
Every September My Bridge Radio does a focus on foster care to correspond with some foster parent recruitment events Christian Heritage puts on across the state. It’s been a joy to be part of those conversations for the last few … Continue reading
August 20, 2019
by Maralee
Comments Off on Why My Daughters Need Simone Biles
Dear Simone, My family is rooting for you. And not just because you represent our country, but because you represent us. My two little daughters sit next to me and cheer for you because just like you, they spent part … Continue reading
July 15, 2019
by Maralee
4 Comments
Can I be honest? Today I hate foster care. I hate what it has done to people I love– adults and children alike. I hate how hopeless it has made me about the government’s ability to do anything right. I … Continue reading
June 14, 2019
by Maralee
1 Comment
Dear Foster Dads, I can’t tell you how many women I talk to who tell me some variation of “I would love to take a foster child into our home, but my husband. . . he’s just not behind the … Continue reading