Let’s Talk About Death, Baby
I talk about death and dying.* A lot. Other than the importance of sharing our stories, the influence of death on our lives and the significance we must assign to […]
Category Archives: The Tough Stuff
The Gifts From Desolation
“I have a 14 year old boy with Reactive Attachment Disorder,” a woman at the foster parent gathering began, “and I just don’t know what to do.” She described a whisper of […]
Dismantle Shame, Build Up Love
A few years ago, I yelled at a friend. I do not remember everything I said, but I know it was ugly and I know we stopped speaking to each […]
The Drudgery Trudge
This is usually the point where I give up. I rarely call it giving up, though. Nope. I dress it up as an epiphany about pursuing what I really want in life. […]
Failed Adoption
Two sisters. Two different homes. Two different last names. Not what was expected. Not what was wanted. Not what was hoped. Celebration tinged with mourning. Joy scented with sorrow. Four became three. Her […]
The Silence is Broken
This space has held only silence for nearly six months. I cannot count the times I’ve been online and tempted to open a new tab, put fingers to keyboard, and […]
Leah & Brian’s After School Special: Parents Are People, Too
Brian and I are tired. Beyond the normal responsibilities of adulthood and parenting, we’ve been taxed by the additional duties of working through grief and trying to adopt our girls. Add in […]
Life After Death
Today would have been my dad’s 59th birthday. I went to the zoo this afternoon to celebrate the first of his birthdays without him. My dad didn’t particularly like zoos […]
My Breaking Heart Still Beats
My little family of four went out to dinner tonight to celebrate the six-month anniversary of our first introduction to each other. While we were waiting to be seated, I […]
My Beating Heart Still Breaks
While brushing my teeth last night, I thought of a question I wanted to ask my dad. I’d forgotten he was gone for just a second until remembering came crashing […]
Parrot & Ox 