What is it about school photos that just stops the heart, and makes you feel like your kids have grown up suddenly without you noticing? These pictures make me want to break into the chorus of “Sunrise Sunset”. How did they get so big? I love these. Even if Kembe is wearing makeup, and Jafta is fighting the urge to bring his spiderman hand into the photo. . . .
what I want you to know: family secrets
What I Want You to Know is a series of reader submissions. It is an attempt to allow people to tell their personal stories, in the hopes of bringing greater compassion to the unique issues each of us face. If you would like to submit a story, email me. Today is a guest post by Jessica. My name is Jessica, I am a forty year old married mother of four. I can’t share my last name or blog, because my story affects several other people, and their story deserves to be where they want . . .
the lucky horse that peed
In the spirit of our “go big or go home” 2010 holiday extravaganza, we took the kids to a little holiday fair tonight. It was put on by our local crazy commune cult of crafters, and the hot event (next to the booth of teapot cozies) was the horse (pony? how can you tell?) carousel. Jafta was thrilled to be able to ride a horse (pony?), but a long line meant that we stood watching other kids ride for a good portion of the evening. At one point, one of the horses (I’m just gonna . . .
the wrong kind of character shoes
Kembe and India had their preschool Christmas play tonight. I really wanted to go, but it was the last class of the semester so I was feeling responsible to be there, too. At the last minute, I called in my TA and had her run the first potion of class so I could drop by. My TA did a great job and I realize that this semester could have been much easier if I were better at delegating. A lesson I always seem to remember in retrospect. It bears mentioning that I am . . .
negotiating gift-giving with the grandparents
This week for my advice column over at the Orange County Register, I am talking about how to deal with grandparents who go crazy with the gifts at Christmas. For full-disclosure, I have to admit that I am lucky in that both my parents and Mark’s parents are generous but reasonable. My mom has been known to over-do it: overflowing gifts under two separate trees, in wrapping paper that coordinates with the ornaments (one red and gold tree, one silver and white). But we scaled it . . .
World Aids Day
In honor of World Aids Day, I wanted to share this video from Project Hopeful about living with HIV. I realize that not everyone will adopt, and not everyone is in a position to adopt an HIV+ child. But I do think that our knowledge base is still very behind, and everyone benefits when we take the time to battle the myths and stigma of HIV. Did you know that children born with HIV today, with the help of current treatment regimes, can have a normal lifespan? Check it out and . . .
totally worth it
Last week I wrote a bit about the difficulties of adopting from the foster-care system. It was mostly a vent about the judgments that people have for adopting internationally . . . but I worry that I sounded like I was discouraging people from adopting through foster care. Though I do believe that it is a difficult process that needs massive reform, I also believe it is totally worth the hardships and inconveniences. I cannot sugar-coat it. The process was very difficult for me . . .
Gifts that Give Back
In a season marked by giving, I love the idea of giving back to our community and our planet. This year, my family decided to forego gifts for the adults, and give donations in each person’s name instead. It’s been so fun thinking of each family member and finding ways to honor each of them with a unique donation. Here are some great ways you can do your Christmas shopping and give back at the same time. Krochet Kids offers 3 year programs to women living in poverty. In this program, the women . . .
the day Jafta’s dreams came true
On Thursday, I made a cheesecake. I'm not sure that the kids have ever witnessed me making a dessert that resembles a pie. When Jafta saw what I was doing, he begged me . . . I mean BEGGED ME . . . to throw it in someone's face. He was sure that this would be the funniest and coolest thing that could ever happened. He even volunteered to be the recipient of this pie-throwing. I thought his idea was amusing - but this particular cheesecake was pretty tastey and I didn't . . .
thankful parents, thankful kids
I wrote this week’s column for the OC Register’s website about cultivating thankfulness in our kids: Keeping a perspective of gratitude is a hard lesson in life – one that many adults have not even mastered. But instilling the practice of being thankful in our children is a habit that will benefit them throughout their life: people who hold a worldview of being thankful tend to report more contentment and also tend to cope better with life’s challenges. There are several tips for . . .
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