Blog Posts & Articles
I’ve been writing articles and blog posts here since 2007. See most recent or most popular posts below, or use this search box. Can’t find what you’re looking for? Ask me. I’m happy to help.
Recent Articles
Introducing Field Notes: an Adoptee Columnist!
Introducing a new column: Field Notes How can adoptive parents relay hard parts of their child’s story to them? Brad Ewell responds.
Dr Brad Reedy: What Adoptive Parents Need to Know about guilt, Shame, & Boundaries
Dr Brad Reedy on the heroic journeys all parents undertake, but especially adoptive parents. Insight on icky emotions and boundaries.
The Truth, the Whole Truth & Nothing But the Truth for Adoptees
What’s the fallout from a huge secret kept from you? Brad Ewell & Fred Nicora tell about discovering their adoption truth…finally.
Dawn Davenport: Why Adoptive Parents Need to Be Continual Learners
Dawn Davenport of Creating A Family on saying YES to continuing education for adoptive parents, and NO to adoption echo chambers.
Open Adoption Advice for Tricky Situations
Open Adoption is HARD (but worth it)
So many parents I’ve talked with are committed to openness in adoption because they understand how evolving from an Either/Or mindset to a BothAnd* heartset better serves everyone involved.
Regular old parenting can get tough, but add in emotionally-charged elements around adoption and things can get really hairy. No parenting guide can give all the answers, but once you know how to set your parenting GPS you’ll know how to find answers right for you in a particular situation.
* To emphasize the integrating of BothAnd, I deliberately do not use a hyphen.
The Future of Adoption
Reader Question: What is the future of adoption regarding openness? We’ve moved from completely closed adoptions to semi-open (pictures and letters sent through the agency,
Kohl’s Adoption Video Brings Out the Either/Or Brigade
A commercial shows reunion between an adoptee & his birth mom. SO many viewers are incensed! I hold the either/or mindset responsible.
How to Avoid Being Gobsmacked by your 18 Year-Old Adoptee
How can it happen that an adoptive parent doesn’t see it coming, their child connecting with birth parents? It’s no fun to be gobsmacked!
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Social Media
Reader Favorites
A digest of readers’ (and my own!) favorite essays. Pull up a post and stay awhile.
Vignettes
Double Feature
Date Night Mishaps
The night my house broke up with me
A night with toddlers locked in my own personal panic room.
*thisclose*
My near-death experience, which went unnoticed by everyone else.
Judgy McJudgerson
A woman at a street festival bugs the crap out of me in a 3-part saga. Judgy much?
Love & Family
Mom badge
I earned it. Holy crap, did I earn it.
My one-and-only pregnancy photo
Paulie, me and Sunny D. Funny (in a take-back-the-infertility kind of way) because I was never really pregnant.
Family of origin of the species
This explains a lot.
Grant Us Peace
3 part harmony with my sisters