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
February 27, 2020
by Maralee
Comments Off on A Time to Shatter the Functional to Make way for the Beautiful
We walked through the door because it was called “The Shard Shop” and that’s just a name that calls out to you. Our friend uses the word “shard” to describe the shattering of your heart that happens when something is … Continue reading
April 11, 2019
by Maralee
1 Comment
The other day my oldest son had his first packet of ramen noodles. I remember eating these occasionally when I was little and making them in my dorm room through college. When we were houseparents at a group home ramen … Continue reading
January 16, 2019
by Maralee
1 Comment
Full disclosure: I did not want to watch “The Good Place.” And I didn’t watch it for a long time. Something about a depiction of the afterlife without any kind of theological accountability made me itchy. I still have itchy … Continue reading
February 5, 2018
by Maralee
Comments Off on A Trauma Mama Watches “The Greatest Showman”
My husband and I went to see “The Greatest Showman” a couple weeks ago. It hit me in the heart for reasons I couldn’t quite articulate. Then I took three of my kids to see it and I was familiar … Continue reading
December 5, 2017
by Maralee
Comments Off on Here’s to You, Trauma Grandparents
We see you, Trauma Grandparents. We know this hasn’t been easy. But you’ve handled it like a champ. You didn’t choose this life. You didn’t have to go through the classes, the licensing, the home study process, but here you … Continue reading
September 25, 2017
by Maralee
27 Comments
Last week I wrote about my newfound love for the pinecone. It has become a symbol of hope and new life after trauma. This year in honor of my daughter’s adoption anniversary, I wanted to give her a pinecone necklace … Continue reading
July 10, 2017
by Maralee
3 Comments
I’ve got a confession. We watched “Moana” as a family for the first time on Saturday. . . and then we watched it four more times over the next three days. This movie clearly resonated with each member of our … Continue reading
January 17, 2017
by Maralee
7 Comments
Once I took a precious baby I was entirely smitten with to a pediatric neurologist. That neurologist spent a few moments with this infant and then told me “those kids are mean.” He went on to make some dire predictions … Continue reading
October 4, 2016
by Maralee
3 Comments
I don’t watch scary movies. Ever. At all. I’m not interested in being scared for fun. The daily diaper changes and the ever-present laundry question “what is in that pocket” are about all the suspense my body can handle. So … Continue reading