April 14, 2022
by Maralee
Comments Off on Ignoring Your Adopted Child’s Questions Doesn’t Preserve Their Innocence
I read this summary of a podcast interview with Thomas Rhett about the adoption of his daughter and I’m not okay with it. I don’t want to pretend that this interview was a full description of how he’s handling adoption … Continue reading
February 15, 2022
by Maralee
Comments Off on Hey Naomi Campbell, My Adopted Kids Are “My” Children
Dear Ms. Campbell, While the two of us couldn’t seem to have more vastly different lives (you’re a famous model and mom of one, I’m a mom of 8 who just finished eating a Valentine Ding Dong treat she pilfered … Continue reading
April 21, 2021
by Maralee
1 Comment
I know there’s a lot of noise right now, but I wanted to offer a moment of quiet reflection for people who are struggling to understand the issues around policing and the justice system in this country. I am a … Continue reading
June 12, 2020
by Maralee
2 Comments
We are in a cultural moment where there is a lot of noise. It can be overwhelming to decide you want to adopt a listening posture only to be inundated with voices (strong voices, LOUD voices) with differing opinions. It’s … Continue reading
December 31, 2019
by Maralee
Comments Off on Teaching Kids to Respect Other Cultures Starts With Understanding Your Own
I remember being about nine years old the first time I realized my family culture was different from the culture I was growing up in. My mom had bought a boxed set of cassette tapes of “The News from Lake … Continue reading
December 13, 2019
by Maralee
14 Comments
I was casually strolling through the aisles at Walmart when I overhead something that made my heart race. I was looking at some dolls, trying to pick a Christmas gift for my daughter and two women right next to me … Continue reading
November 22, 2019
by Maralee
1 Comment
November is National Adoption Awareness month and over the years we’ve been an adoptive family, my feelings about this month have run the gamut. In the beginning, I just wanted to post beautiful pictures of my beautiful kids and acknowledge … Continue reading
October 10, 2019
by Maralee
Comments Off on What I Would Go Back and Tell Myself The Day We Adopted
Dear Maralee, Today you will become a mother. I know they told you you would meet your baby son tomorrow, but the orphanage administrator decided it will be today. She will not tell you this until she walks into the … Continue reading
September 11, 2019
by Maralee
1 Comment
We took our kids to an amusement park over the summer. We had three kids that were tall enough to ride whatever they wanted and three that were only tall enough to ride the little kid rides. This works out … Continue reading
September 4, 2019
by Maralee
Comments Off on “Mom. You’re the one who decided to adopt a black kid.”
This last Sunday my son asked me if I’d try out a new hairstyle on him. I had been watching youtube videos on how to do this particular style. I’d bought the products necessary. His hair is finally long enough … Continue reading