Nearly 30 years after he first held the tiniest baby either of us had ever seen, my husband Vince got to preside over her wedding. The ceremony, which took place on a perfect Friday evening, celebrated life, love, laughter, family and parenting in all its forms -- step parents, birth parents, grandparents, godparents, foster parents, [...]
I have it on good authority that horses listen carefully to humans. Sometimes, they even hear the things we don't say. I got to see all of that yesterday when I watched a horseback riding lesson at Lucky Stables. The young riders I saw all had to groom their horses before they could ride and [...]
Dear teacher, Some students are like sour cherry trees, scraggly on the surface and difficult to prune. They need their space as much as they need attention and can’t always appreciate a sunny day. Still, you treat them gently, water as needed and try each day to help them grow. You may wonder, as they [...]
The message came midway through a rough morning as we worked to get one of our young charges to school. “I’m parked down the block. Text me if you need me.” And, once again, I am astonished at the level of compassion, professionalism and super human strength Outagamie County foster care social workers possess. I [...]
I have been a mother for 34 years. I have also been a godmother, a mother in-law, a room mother, foster mother and, on at least two occasions when I’ve encountered someone with an exceptionally foul mouth having a very bad day, a mother-rhymes-with-trucker. Mother’s Day is for me. I like to celebrate it by [...]