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Category Archives: Adoption
A Little More About Adoption
I’ve written before about how we, as a society, need to stop treating adoption as the booby prize. Stop viewing it as a second-class track to parenthood. Then someone asked what I would recommend, then the best option is visit infantcore.com … Continue reading
A Mother’s Day Tradition
Back when I was a child, Mother’s Day meant all three, and then four, of us kids “helping” Dad with breakfast. Our usual Sunday morning fare was fried or scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, and Sarah Lee Honey Buns—which if … Continue reading
Posted in Adoption, Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Adoption, Autism, Divorce, Expectations, Family, Gratitude, Holidays, Resentment, Single Parent, Unplanned Life
5 Comments
There’s No Daddy Here
A year or so ago, my daughter Katie noticed that her family looked different. She was doing a class project that involved identifying family members. Her drawing included the two of us plus Max the cat and Delta the dog. … Continue reading
Posted in Adoption, Autism, My Life
Tagged Adoption, Autism, Divorce, Family, Fathers, Milestones, Parenting, Single Parent, Unplanned Life
2 Comments
Excuse Me While I Rant a Bit About the Media and Adoption
Why do the media feel compelled to point out when a child is adopted? It’s never Sandra Bullock and her son. It’s always Sandra Bullock and her adopted son, Louis. The articles specify which of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s … Continue reading
Posted in Adoption, My Life
Tagged Adoption, Angelina Jolie, Family, Infertility, Media, Nicole Kidman, Parenting, Sandra Bullock, Surrogate
7 Comments
One Thing I Hear Constantly
One thing I hear constantly as a single parent of an autistic child: Wow, I don’t know how you manage. I don’t think I could do it. I suspect these people mean well, that they are trying to give me … Continue reading
Posted in Adoption, Autism, My Life
Tagged Abandonment, Acceptance, Adoption, Autism, Dating, Divorce, Family, Single Parent, Unplanned Life
7 Comments
My Life as a Sweater, Part 2
Several weeks ago I wrote about the bad days when I’m exhausted, depressed, and totally overwhelmed, days when my life is a sweater unraveled. It was also a post about the surprising number of people who have told me over … Continue reading
Posted in Adoption, Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Autism, Open Adoption, Unplanned Life
4 Comments
Will the Real Parent Please Stand Up
Open adoption is a subject people find endlessly fascinating. Whenever I mention that my daughter and I visit her birthparents, as we did about a week ago, strangers will gape in amazement. “You actually know them?” they gasp. “The real … Continue reading
Posted in Adoption, My Life
Tagged Adoption, Endometriosis, Family, Open Adoption, Parenting, Unplanned Life
6 Comments
My Life as a Sweater
Last week I had one of those days where I felt like a failure. I was exhausted and depressed and totally overwhelmed. The day started out pretty well. Then around mid-morning a friend said that she didn’t know how I … Continue reading
Posted in Adoption, Autism, My Life
Tagged Abandonment, Acceptance, Adoption, Autism, Depression, Divorce, Open Adoption, Single Parent, Unplanned Life
8 Comments
Do Not Open Until Christmas
Once again the holidays are upon us. It’s time to plan a trip to see my daughter’s birthparents. Yes, you read that correctly. Her birthparents. My ex-husband and I chose to do what is called an open adoption. This is … Continue reading
Posted in Adoption, My Life
Tagged Adoption, Divorce, Family, Holidays, Open Adoption, Unplanned Life
4 Comments
Aiming for the Sky
When my daughter Katie was four and using two-word phrases, someone asked how I handled the shame. I stared at her, confused. I’ve never felt shame over Katie’s autism. Sorrow of course, but never shame. My mother says I’d feel … Continue reading
Posted in Adoption, Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Adoption, Anger, Autism, Divorce, Shame, Unplanned Life
2 Comments