If you have a large family you may have been subjected to this question as well as many others. While grocery shopping with my children I’ve had complete strangers ask me if I’m Catholic. Others have asked me if I know about birth control. Many people have asked if they’re all mine, to which I will answer yes. One outspoken and rather rude man then said, “Do they all have the same father?” To which I had to answer, “No, and they don’t all have the same mother either.” He gave me a really strange look, I smiled and walked... more

I’ve noticed that my daughter keeps getting older, well chronologically any way, but her friends don’t. She seems to have to change friends every year or two so that she can keep her friends in that six to eight year old age group. Luckily for her, here at home, we just keep getting more children (some people just don’t know how to say, no more) and so she keeps moving down the line in which one she plays with. When one child gets too old to play with her, at her level, she moves to the next younger one.

Currently her best friend seems to... more

This weekend my house will filled with “normal”. Frankly, that doesn’t happen very often. We do not live an orderly, quite, predictable, “normal” life. We hosted the girls from our church’s youth group for dinner Saturday night. The youth were on a “retreat” of sorts through a program called D-Now (Disciple-Now). Our church was the host of over 350 youth from area churches. They met for group sessions with a dynamic speaker and band. Then they broke out into gender-specific smaller groups by church. While we were not the host home for spending... more

Deb on Open Adoption blogged about it yesterday…that feeling that among a group of moms you are considered “less than”. It happens to those who’ve adopted, but it happens to others as well.

I have been a “less than” mom for nearly 14 years now.. In one particularly annoying, reoccurring scenario, I often went to my stepdaughter’s elementary school (she’s in college now, so it’s been a while) to pick her up from the afterschool program. The same receptionist would ask... more

We made it! We’re now officially moved and living in the new town. While the boxes are mostly unpacked (or shoved in the garage until a later date) and the kids settled into their new room, our new house routines and habits have yet to form.

Which is my way of saying, I haven't yet found a way to carve out a niche of time to write regularly yet. (Today the kids are sleeping in a bit, so I'm at the kitchen table with my laptop typing quietly before I head into work.)

Just to let you know, Jay is doing good. Actually he’s doing exceptionally well. I'm really impressed with his newly developed coping abilities. Actually, I'm rather blown away by it.

Craig had a few teary... more

I’m guessing you’ve seen the movie…with Susan Sarandon…years ago. Me too, long before I ever dreamed I’d be parenting a child with special needs, let alone writing a blog about myelination. It was by googling “myelin” that I was reminded of Lorenzo’s Oil.

That’s because the organization that Lorenzo’s mom, Michaela, founded is called The Myelin Project. Talk about a tireless mom! This woman gave up all existence except the quest for answers... more

Those of you who are Focus on the Family fans probably don’t want to miss today’s show.

When Love Isn't Enough Sandra Lundberg and Nancy Thomas Dr. Sandra Lundberg and Nancy Thomas offer advice and encouragement to adoptive parents who face the difficult challenge of raising children with Reactive Attachment Disorder.

When Love Isn't Enough Wednesday, January 24, 2007 Young children who fail to form a proper attachment with their... more

This title probably doesn’t surprise you, but now there is scientific evidence…right down to the cellular level. A study coming out of the University of California-San Francisco compared biological mothers of chronically ill children to those of healthy children. The finding was that chronic stress, and the perception of life stress significant impact on three biological factors -- the length of telomeres, the activity of telomerase, and levels of oxidative stress -- in immune system cells... more

Yesterday’s sermon was on Jesus being tempted in the wilderness. The pastor pointed out something I hadn’t really considered before…Jesus was alone. He was alone in the wilderness for 40 days. Yes, he was without food and hungry. But the point was that he was infinitely more susceptible to temptation because he was ALONE.

With that thought, my mind began wandering to parents of special needs children. We are so often alone, or think we are. Alone in the wilderness. No one else is dealing with the same issues as we are, no one else understands.... more

Five…I’d say that’s the number of times I’ve watched the Oprah show in the last 3-4 months. So, I’m not a huge fan. I do sometimes tune in, though, if homeschool is over and I need a break in the afternoon. Or usually I catch it on at some doctor’s office as we’re waiting for an appointment.

On Friday, for some strange reason, I was watching it while working on a craft project in my basement. The topic was Little Geniuses. It was amazing to watch all that talent. But then…the story switched to a high school senior with... more