Madeline is so happy she can finally come up with her name!
And to think she didn’t speak at all until well after two.
1 month ago
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Fifteen Years old
Sixteen years old
Seven Years Old
Five Years Old
Adventures in Life, Parenting & Real World Navigation Through the Eyes of a Former Foster Kid, Current Foster Parent
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The Many Voices Foster Care, Adoption & Child Advocacy
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2024 Voyage Ohio Interview - It was an honor to be interviewed recently by VoyageOhio: *Hi Lisa, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into spe...
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The Revolution will not be danced! - That was the title of the dance piece that my son choreographed taught to 11 other dancers and performed himself at college. At almost 12 minutes it w...1 month ago
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Are Adoptees Blank Slates? - An Adoptee on twitter made an observation that summed up the reality for many adoptees and I can’t find the tweet. Argh. The gist of it was even if you get...3 months ago
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Hello world! - Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!… The post Hello world! first appeared on Judy M. Miller.3 months ago
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A Motherhood Life Lesson - Photo by Terra Trevor (1986) My babies are all grown. I no longer sneak off to my writing room to finish that one last page. I’ve learned not to try. Now ...
6 months ago -
What's the context for "alienating behaviors"? (Baselines and all that) - It would seem quite likely that some parents do sometimes do or say things that can be considered "alienating behaviors”—actions that might make child...6 months ago
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RIP: The fire behind adoption reform, Florence Fisher - Lorraine Florence Fisher, the spark plug who ignited the adoption-reform movement in 1971*, *died peacefully on Sunday, October 1. She was 95, and in faili...
6 months ago -
New: Adoption History Website - My friend and fellow adoption and human rights activist Janine Myung Ja (of Vance Twins) has just published her new website: Adoption History. “Janine’s wo...7 months ago
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Goodbye, WordPress! - I think I’ve hated WordPress since I first started using it, and that hatred has only grown as it has morphed into an unusable mess with an obtuse interfac...10 months ago
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How’d it happen - Today at work, I was thinking about my life. Man, I have a job. I have an apartment. I pay my bills. I am not in prison or pregnant or living on the stree...10 months ago
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Updates & Connecting With me These Days - [image: Black and white image of Amanda from the chest-up with the backdrop of a large studio room in her new practice] *Welcome to a space on the web* tha...
1 year ago -
Why Every Foster Parent Needs Sexual Abuse Training - Why Every Foster Parent Needs Sexual Abuse Training Foster parents need sexual abuse training: She was only 7 years old when Child Protective Services br...2 years ago
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Les 11.000 mailles - “Academia Catavencu” - 18 juilliet 2001 Chers lecteurs, Ce qui suit est une petite histoire qui précède la visite en Roumanie d’un premier-ministre français et de sa suite. Le...2 years ago
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Adoption Initiative Conference 2022 - Originally posted on Daniel Drennan ElAwar: The Evolution of Adoption Practice: Activist and Community Perspectives Friday, March 25 and Saturday, March 26...2 years ago
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Blogging About Saving Money - A few weeks ago, I applied for a job. (Actually, it was several weeks ago, but I have had a hard time getting back to this post for some reason.) Anyway, y...
2 years ago -
Out of the Shadows: An Adoptee Perspective on "American Baby" by Gabrielle Glaser - *American Baby* is a new non-fiction book about the history of closed adoption in the United States that takes a critical look about adoption in Ameri...
3 years ago -
Scared - I wanted to paraphrase myself, as my tummy is in knots just thinking about going back: Am I important to her? I would like to think I am, that she thinks o...3 years ago
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Why is Home Décor Essential? - A day spent alone, and one spent with friends will get you in an entirely different mood. Your mood depends on your company and surroundings. This theory d...3 years ago
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Excellent Webinar on Effectively Communicating With Teenagers - Ryan Dowd of the Homeless Training Institute is one of my favorite trainers. Here's a link to the workbook, and here's a link to register for this free ...
3 years ago -
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SOUND AND FURY - It’s the noise that brings me to my knees. Noise I can’t control. I spoke with my psychiatrist regarding it a year ago. He mused on it for a few, shifted i...3 years ago
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God Works in Shitty, Shitty Ways - I’ve said it before: One of the things that makes adopto-blogging so difficult for me is that it’s the same damned stuff, day after year after decade. So h...3 years ago
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Tips on Breastfeeding and Snacks for Breastfeeding Your New Baby - So you are probably here because you wanna know exactly more information on breastfeeding and the best snacks for breastfeeding too? One of the greatest bo...5 years ago
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My last CPS meeting - I don't remember the "official" name of the meeting I attended this morning. But the gist of it was to find out what the State could do to salvage the plac...5 years ago
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CLAIRVOYANT HEALING, COLON CLEANSING, AND HYPNOTHERAPY: THE WEIRDEST THINGS WE’VE DONE IN THE NAME OF HEALTH | SELFIE EPISODE 45 - Sarah saw a hypnotherapist. Kristen went to a faith healer. One of us has had her colon roto-routed. We are talking about the most wacky and woo-woo thin...5 years ago
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"The one that adopted me, not the biological one." - It's so difficult dealing with my mother. The one that adopted me, not the biological one. The biological mother I have is far less upsetting than the adop...5 years ago
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Visiting the DMV With an Immigrant, Transracially Adopted Child - Recently I went with my anxious teenager to the DMV to take the test for her learners permit. We arrived expecting lines and nerves about her test. But wha...
5 years ago -
The February 2018 Update is... - that there is no update. Really, are you at all surprised? We’re doing well though. My attorney wants me to put the blog back up and start writing ag...6 years ago
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The Wall - I hit the wall hard on Friday night and I woke up Saturday morning just as miserable as I had gone to bed. So I . spent the entire day in my hiding in my ...6 years ago
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Therapy - Well. Y "finished" therapy, but we can go back if we need to. I feel like things are going so much better overall with him. The therapist said she felt li...6 years ago
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Where There’s Smoke… - finished transcribing a Supernatural fan fic i started writing over the summer today. it comes in at about 4.5k words so far, but there’s still …6 years ago
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Mothers as "Relinquishers" - Revised 12/21/17*Open Letter to MADDeline Hauter aka Julie,* Julie, you and I have gotten off to a bad start and I would like to remedy that. I have been a...
6 years ago -
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Another Milestone ~ 8 years and 8 months in the making! - Another milestone in my reunion with my firstborn happened last weekend. (It only took 8 years and 8 months!) For the first time ever, all of my children ...
6 years ago -
Introducing Becca - Hi everyone! I'm back! Sort of. Let me explain. Many of you know me as a Rebecca Hawkes, but in real life most people know me as Becca Bryer. Rebecca Hawk...
6 years ago -
seeds - Sorry I disappeared again. It wasn’t a good time to talk about what’s going on because still nothing is resolved but sometimes I want to talk anyway and I’...6 years ago
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Another day, Another Seizure... - Epilepsy never gets any easier. Or easier to write about. Awesome had another big seizure this morning. The second one this week. I find myself, as alwa...7 years ago
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College Scholarships for Adoptees - *Did you know that there are scholarships available for adopted and foster children?* Many of these scholarships cover tuition cost, living expenses, c...
7 years ago -
All Parent Blogs in One Place! - If you are looking for all of my blog posts pertaining to therapeutic parenting, you can locate those on my coaching site. Neat and tidy. I'll see you over...
7 years ago -
Facing Pride of Abandonment - Despite the number of times she said it, I do not think she was “proud” she gave away her child. At least I do not think she was proud in the literal sen...8 years ago
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10 Cara Mengatasi Rambut Rontok Secara Alami Yang Praktis dan Mudah - Cara mengatasi rambut rontok secara alami seringkali menjadi pilihan yang dilakukan oleh banyak orang karena dianggap mudah dan terjangkau, selain itu ju...8 years ago
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Manfaat Buah Jambu Air Bagi Kesehatan Tubuh - Manfaat Buah Jambu Air Bagi Kesehatan Tubuh – Buah jambu air adalah buah yang sudah sangat familiar di Indonesia. Buag ini dinamakan jambu air karena di ...8 years ago
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Chinese New Year Chapter Books for Older Kids - There are many lists about Chinese New Year books for preschoolers and young elementary students, but very few highlight chapter books for middle graders a...
8 years ago -
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Shout It Out - So, between taking my sweet Granddaughter to Disney World and getting into our family place at the lake, I’ve spent most of September barely on social med...
8 years ago -
IEPs and children who have experienced trauma (post 2 in series) - *Problem* *Traditional behavior charts which include positive motivators (such as sticker charts, extra free time, treasure box prizes) and negative motiv...8 years ago
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Guest Post: David Smolin shares his experience as a speaker at this years Christians Alliance for Orphan (CAFO) summit - In CAFO’s own words their summit “inspires and equips Christians to care for orphans with wisdom-guided love. The CAFO Summit has become the national hub...
8 years ago -
Near and Far - Here's what Christmas was like when I was a child in Australia: presents in the morning around our family Christmas tree, then over to our grandparents' h...
9 years ago -
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School Supply List 2014-2015 - I currently have 7 children, 5 of whom will be in public school this year. Their combined school supply list is forever long. Good thing I buy things on sa...9 years ago
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Small Update - I mailed my Dad’s Father’s Day card, which included my letter to him asking him to adopt me back, today. Now I’m nervous, but it probably won’t even get to...9 years ago
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Letting go of The Hard. Good night. - Why couldn't I just leave it here, unfinished? I don't know. Yet, it haunts me. This year, I become aware, one of the things I really needed to do was "Let...
9 years ago -
They Just Don't Get It . . . - I have decided to take my son out of school at the end of this year. For years I was intent on the fact that he would be in school as long as they allowed...10 years ago
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National Guinea Pig Day - Blitzen and I took the day off of school and work to celebrate the day. And a really weird thing happened – we had an amazing time. Blitzen and I have ne...10 years ago
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Great Deal on gDiapers Hybrid Cloth Diapers with Flushable Liners (LIMITED TIME) - One of my favorite ways to be a thrifty foster parent is to cloth diaper! For our family it's been a fantastic way to protect our foster babies' tender tu...
10 years ago -
Daiily Bastardette moving to Word Press - After a couple years of talking to myself about it, I have decided to transfer *The Daily Bastardette* from Blogger to Word Press. The final straw came...
10 years ago -
Well, Hello There - Hello! How are you? I miss writing here so much! But that is not what I am here today to say. [image: Adoption Blogger Interview Project 2013] The Adoptio...10 years ago
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Party Animals - *I understand this post is almost a year over due, but the theme of this blog is better late then never. * All I wanted for my bachelorette party was to...
10 years ago -
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Luca's 3rd Bday - I was there the day he was born. I can not believe this little baby is THREE years old. (Click to Enlarge) Someone please tell him to stop growing...
10 years ago -
Trauma Doesn't Tell Time - Robyn Gobbel, LCSW, wrote a blog post regarding trauma, implicit and explicit memories. I don't know Robyn but now I'm seriously crushing on her. Here is...10 years ago
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Guess who got a job? - Me. That's who! My background check was finally fixed and the transitional living program offered me a job. It will be a night job that doesn't pay enoug...10 years ago
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Oh My it has been AWHILE! - Well... by the looks of things around the blog I got busy :) I can't believe it has been since August that I last updated on our journey. I don't have time...11 years ago
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Orphans, Orphanage in children's movies and books? - If you are a member of the adoption triad you probably know of Disney's need to kill off a parent in every movie. We avoid any movies that I know have a ne...11 years ago
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Defining Ourselves for Ourselves - An Alumni Sister asked, “how do we learn to define ourselves for ourselves and learn to not see ourselves as cases but as people?” Learning to define yours...11 years ago
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Culture, Christmas & Adoption - Somehow, in all the years I've watched Miracle on 34th Street, I've managed to miss this scene until this year, where a Dutch girl comes to see Macy's Sa...
11 years ago -
First holidays together.... - Tigger, S, and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We were with my parents and my relatives. S's relatives have all moved out of state and this was his first...
11 years ago -
Musings of the Lame: Life as a Birthmother: What's Wrong With the Adoption Tax Credit? - Please hop on over to Musings of the Lame, where Claudia has made it easy to let your law makers know that we will support a bill that HELPS FOSTER CHILD...11 years ago
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Back to school= quiet house - Back to school 2012 that's deserving of a blog post! Really, my house is quiet. The tears of sending Jack off to Kindergarten have passed. I have a mome...
11 years ago -
Moving - I have moved this blog to http://adoptingspecialneeds.wordpress.com. I hope you all move with me!11 years ago
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Absence Makes The Heart Grow........ - "Absence makes the heart grow founder". Does it really? Or does absence make the heart grow curious, empty, confused, or just plain hard? I never truly und...
11 years ago -
Finding Myself - Have any of you seen the movie, "Runaway Bride"? Well, there's a girl who has been engaged multiple times and ends up running off during the actual wedding...11 years ago
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Labels Change. “Foster Kid” to “Foster Parent” - Fifteen years ago, if you would have told me that I would one day be a foster parent, I would have laughed in your face. I wanted to be so far away from th...12 years ago
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Reminder - I moved to: http://insertbadmovietitlehere.wordpress.com Thanks for following!
12 years ago -
Recognition. - My biosister, Nicole, is a teenager and is 5 months pregnant. Obviously, when most people find this out, they are curious to know if she will place her ...
12 years ago -
Moved - I've got myself some new digs. If you want to follow, email me at: dandiesinthesunshine@hotmail.com12 years ago
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Two second post - (Okay, this post wasn't supposed to be blank. Apparently blogging from my phone is not fool proof.) I quit my part time job today. I'm equal parts elated...12 years ago
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Saying Goodbye To A Pet Is Never Easy - I lost my first baby, bandana boy, sooo sad. The decision was hard. And even though it may have been obvious, the loss of a pet is never easy. I still r...12 years ago
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Dealing with death and dysfunction - My maternal grandmother passed away last week. No condolences are necessary as I didn't know her. I wanted to know her. I tried to know her, but she was...12 years ago
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Just Sayin - In regard to some of the comments I am not and will not post Defensive behaviors can be the result of a: * Challenge to private or public perceptions of ou...12 years ago
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Moving Day - Tomorrow is August 29th, which is the deadline I set for myself to launch the newly designed site for Home (if I hadn't set the deadline I may have procra...12 years ago
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Farewell to Yoon's Blur - So, I know I just said I was going to take a break. But I have decided that, yes, it is time to go. No more "breaks." This is it. In light of all the "bre...12 years ago
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Musician Suzanne Vega Finds Her Birth Father--Her Blood Sings - Suzanne Vega's adopted. Sort of. At age 9 she found out her daddy wasn't her real daddy. She was also shocked because that meant she was White. (Adoptive d...
12 years ago -
My 30 Day Dating Diet - ----My 30 Day Dating Diet Journal---- "Embrace and appreciate your woman's mind." Tony Gaskins said. The immediate thought that rushed to my mind upon hea...
13 years ago -
Boys will be boys - Despite acting like he doesn’t understand what we say, Gege has a very good sense of what is allowed and what isn’t, and more or less follows our household...13 years ago
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From the Beginning - Are you a new reader? Then may want to start here. See my main blog HERE. Screwed Up: My Life Part I Part II Part III Part IV Part V Part VI Part VII P...
14 years ago -
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Good Reads
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Applause10 years ago
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Show Me the Magic10 years ago
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Dragon Slippers13 years ago
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Look Who's Here
Hang Out On FaceBook
Shiny Happy People
More Friends
Archives
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2011
(114)
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May
(21)
- Tradition, Honor and Remembrance
- Where The Heart is
- No Comment
- Oh, No! She Made the Pom-Pon Team!
- After The Storm
- Sun, Fun and Ice Cream
- CoCo Speaks
- Mad’s Poem about Coco
- We Don't Belong To No One That's a Shame
- Parenting Sucks Sometimes
- Scars Are Souvenirs You Never Lose
- No More Foster Kid Fairy Tails
- Helpin’
- May is National Foster Care Month
- A Happy Mother’s Day
- Amélie Asks Some Doozies
- Ugh, It Is That Dreaded Time of Year
- What’s For Dinner
- The Final Maze: Kicking a Foster Kid When She is Down
- I Felt It Before I Saw It
- They Are The Moons Shining Over Me
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May
(21)
Mad
Fifteen Years old
Pipi
Sixteen years old
Amé
Seven Years Old
CoCo
Five Years Old