Continuing our previous discussions about homeschooling, let's talk about online resources:

You don’t need a fancy or pricey curriculum to get started in homeschooling. Usually, each year before the beginning of the term, I will go to my State Department of Education website and download a copy of their curriculum standards as well as Scope and Sequence materials. I then use things I know interest my son to meet the content standards. For example, in... more

I have received some questions concerning foster care from biological parents. Normally my blog is directed to foster parents. Biological parents that are trying to seek information on how to become better parents for their children in foster care need to be given a chance. I will try to answer questions that have been asked of me. Sugar coating things is not something I do. My approach is direct and honest.

A biological mother wants to be part of her child’s life in foster care and feels the foster parents are making it difficult for her. Foster parent’s busy daily life has become the life of her child and that it makes contact difficult for the biological mother. She... more

Blogger Deb and I are both outspoken mothers with strong opinions. There is alot that we agree on - at least I think so - but we do clash on some issues. One issue that I believe that we do agree on is that adoption needs to be based more fully on the truth.

To downplay the challenges of adoption for birth or adoptive parents does no favor to a child. All parents need to be fully educated and informed about the roles that they are considering in adoption. The Internet has made educating yourself about adoption easier.

However,... more

Nancy wrote a great blog about the game we played last night, but I want to approach it from a different angle. It was a blast, and something I highly recommend. It is called “Cowgirls ride the trail of truth.”

Let me assure you, you don’t have to be a cowgirl, have ever been on a horse or even know one end of the horse from another to play this game. Being... more

Open adoption is like a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Just like a roller coaster, open adoption provides the participants with ups and downs and twists and turn. You are never quite sure what is coming up ahead or what is coming next.

There are so many emotions that you may be experiencing in an open adoption. You may feel happy and sad all at once.

In the next few days, we will explore the rollercoaster ride of emotions that open adoption is. I will also share with you tips on how to deal with certain emotions. Of course, since I am... more

I have had an absolutely insane day. One of those days when I went from one phone line to the other, thankful that Kelly is here to answer the ATN line as I am beeping through calls on the other line.

Kelly and I spent most of the day at the Elms Resort, the location for our upcoming conference. We met another ATN staff member there, and Kelly and (the other) Nancy agreed I did OK in picking a nice place! We drove the hour back home and took pictures of the trainer riding Beth’s pony... more

I know what you should be doing, and that’s attending the Attachment & Trauma Network conference in Excelsior Springs, Missouri.

I went to tour The Elms Resort & Spa where we are having the conference, today, and I am very excited. It is beautiful and has tons of things for you to do to relax. I am already scoping out the spa and making a list of services I would like.

The best part of this conference is meeting other parents who are living the same life you are, so you never have to... more

President and Communist Party leader Hu Jintao has once again outlined his vision for China's future: You say you want a revolu-shuh-hunn... but nothing too dramatic, mind you.

No, no, wait, sorry. He said: Insist on the party’s leadership, governance by the people and ruling the nation by laws. The "by the people" part is not to be mistaken for Western-style democracy. It's something else.

Something profitable, but not exactly free. (One of the interesting things about Chinese political ideology is that whatever the system is right now, it's not meant to... more

Both my adopted stepson and myself suffered trauma as children leaving the two of us with a large amount of fear and insecurity when it comes to relationships and ‘letting people in.’ These fears have contributed greatly to the push pull dance that the two of us do when it comes to bonding and getting close with each other. Once things are going well between the two of us, one of us becomes unconsciously freaked inside, and pulls away from the other in an attempt... more

From Newborn Adoption: The First Week:

2. Coordinate consistent feedings.

A newborn baby’s digestive system can be a delicate thing, so you want to keep the feedings as consistent as possible. Unfortunately, feeding an adopted baby exclusively with breast milk is not an option for most adoptive parents, so you will want to choose the best formula for your baby.

A good place to start is to find... more