I didn't have to do anything except gather the plastic bags full of his shirts and pants and socks and underwear and shoes. Bags with books and teddy bears. All he had. I stood in the room with others, including his foster Mom. We just waited watching him weep. Watching a child's heart break. He …
Category: Children
How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
I don't post much anymore and this post is long and it's not funny but I really hope you will read it. I ask you to read it. And share it because it matters not just in Portland, not just in Oregon but throughout the U.S. My mother was a teacher before I was born. …
Profoundly Resilient
Today is Brigid's 16th birthday! It is hard to believe that just four months ago this happened: Brigid was in the back seat behind the driver. Here you can see her car door stuck to the grill of the car that hit them. We were in the hospital for 10 days. Brigid in her …
I Got that Call
I'm typing this from Brigid's hospital room. Early Sunday morning, she was in a car going back to her friend's house from a run to McDonalds. A drunk driver blew through a 4 way stop and t-boned the car. Brigid was in the back seat on the driver's side and took the bulk of the …
She Did It!
This post is just a little bit of crowing by a proud mama. Annie got into the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City! She starts in September! GAHHHHHH!!!!!! I am so proud of her. She has had a rough four years. Aside from the highs and lows of being a teenager, she …
You’re It!
December sucked. I got sick midway through and the cough is finally clearing up. My nose is raw from blowing snot out of it for weeks but I am just about done. I didn't go to one festive holiday party. Not one. Deren and I weren't getting along. Mostly due to other stresses in our …
Dear Katie,
For my readers who don't know Katie's story, please refer back here and here. Katie has been home for a few months and returns to school today. She is still working so hard and has come so far and her reward is a touch of normalcy, she gets to go to school half time for …
An Open Letter to My Daughters
Dear Annie and Brigid, Your nonchalant refusal to take me up on my invitation yesterday to join me on my trip to the cemetery to take flowers to my parents was completely thoughtless, showing that you have hit new lows in self-indulgent, inconsiderate behavior. You were not only disrespectful to me, you were disrespectful to …
Shame on you Paw My Gosh
Do you follow Paw My Gosh on Facebook or Twitter or Pinterest or Tumblr or whatever the hell other place there is for following things? Paw My Gosh is one of those websites with cute dog pictures and stories and videos about darling animals and the wonderful things they do. Up until last week, I …
So, What’s in Store for 2014?
Do you make New Year's Revolutions? I do, sometimes. I love the years when my resolution is to do more crossword puzzles and bam! I do it and I have stayed true to my word. Then there are the boring new year's resolutions....diet, alcohol, exercise, smoking, etc. Those are the UnHoly Quadrangle of failed New …
The Miracle of Elephant Eating
How do you eat an elephant? You know, because an elephant is really, really big and could weigh up to 12,000 lbs, so it would be really tough to plan an eating strategery. I doubt anyone would want to eat a real live elephant so let's instead ask, "how do you eat a 12,000 pound …
Sorrowful, Hopeful, Thankful
As I wrote here last week, on the night of November 15, three girls who are juniors in high school and friends of my daughter, Annie, were in a serious head-on car accident. Sadly, the accident was caused by a teen driver who was in the wrong lane. Miraculously, the passengers in two of the …
Did You Misc. Maggie? 