November 2, 2022
by Maralee
Comments Off on I Don’t Need You to Lie to My Kid
I had an experience this last week that’s left me a little unsettled. I don’t like being unsettled. I took my daughter in for an appointment with a pediatric dentist. We typically all see the same dentist, but she had … Continue reading
August 23, 2022
by Maralee
Comments Off on When Pointing Out the Problem Makes You the Problem
Sometimes I think I am the pinky toe in the Body of Christ. I don’t mean that in a disparaging way. I think pinky toes are pretty important. Have you ever been walking through your house in the dark after … Continue reading
June 7, 2019
by Maralee
Comments Off on The One Thing Young Kids Need to Know About Sex
I currently have four kids in elementary school from Kindergarten to fifth grade. My kids have not experienced any sexual abuse (to my knowledge), we have been very careful about any potential porn exposure, and we closely monitor their involvement … Continue reading
February 28, 2018
by Maralee
Comments Off on The Big, Beautiful Story of an Open Adoption
This last weekend was a big one for our family. Our son got to meet his birthfamily for the first time since he was just a few weeks old. We were invited to a family wedding on pretty short notice, … Continue reading
February 1, 2018
by Maralee
Comments Off on Dismantling FrankenMom
A friend of mine called me up to ask about a Norwex gift she wanted to give her cleaning lady. HER CLEANING LADY. I have known this friend for years and it never occurred to me that she had a … Continue reading
November 29, 2017
by Maralee
1 Comment
I am by and large a “live and let live” kind of parent. You do what works for you, Moms. But today I’m just feeling fed up with the whole Santa game and the Santa-infused nonsense this time of year … 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
November 18, 2013
by Maralee
5 Comments
All parents have experienced this scenario (or one like it): You come around the corner and see your child sitting in front of the pantry with chocolate on his face and candy wrappers around him. What’s the first thing you … Continue reading
November 13, 2013
by Maralee
1 Comment
Honesty isn’t always easy. Recently I’ve been trying to teach my kids that if they tell lies, God still knows the truth. I may not be able to always catch them when they lie, but that doesn’t mean they have … Continue reading