I had a runaway daughter this past week. The middle child, now almost 17, in an original sibling group of 7 tough, strong-willed children, tore out of our house after the beautiful afternoon high school graduation of her older birth sister.

I’d pointed out that she seemed to be harboring a raging case of PMS. Often she’s referred to as our favorite Viper Girl due to a particularly strong mean streak. Conversely she’s very attached to me, needs my constant reassurance and she’s affectionate as well, helpful... more

There’s a local high school soccer coach who set up a ‘Cleats for Feets’ program here in our community that has benefited my children in immeasurable ways.

There’s a $50.00 registration fee in order to play rec league soccer per child. I have 14 children playing twice a year. This same coach initially bought cleats, shin guards, soccer socks and soccer balls for my children as well.

Since then I’ve met many parents on the field who donated their children’s out-grown... more

“Things I never thought I would have to say before becoming a parent, No. 1101: Stop licking the refrigerator!”

The Atlanta Journal Constitution started this Vent section many, many years ago. I greatly prefer laughing to just about anything else and this section cracks me up constantly. Home of such winners as, “Do wind breakers really break wind?” which once caused me to be unable to hold it together for an entire day back when I still worked in the... more

I have another great kid, pictured here with me; he’s 13 years old, the oldest of his sibling group of five. They’ve been with me for five years now.

A very challenging group with severe emotional issues. He’s had his own, has demonstrated some disturbed behavior at times, but he has responded in therapy and decided that I must be the real deal. He’s open and affectionate, polite and even grateful at times.

He’s the older brother of a 12 year old here. This twelve year old, Jose, is either somewhat autistic or it is Asperger’s... more

As I read this article on homeless children, its irony was not lost on me. I have worked myself to the bone, providing a home for children, children who once had no clue about where they’d live, or if they’d be able to remain with their siblings.

Yet this once nice home here, before children with severe destructive tendencies moved in, is also the same home that they choose to run away from in anger, unable and unwilling to face their emotional pain and... more

Am I really this annoyingly over-pumped, opinionated, strong-willed mama of 39?

Yes I am, and I’m grateful that I have an outlet for my dreams, goals, plans and visions. This is what I wanted, I strived to be their mama, it’s not glamorous but neither am I. This is my dream, and I willed it and worked it until I had it.

I also dream for 100% success for them all; either college educated, and/or financially successful, happy and content in their lives. I am nowhere near that goal. I have five college graduates... more

With 39 kids calling me, visiting me, or living with me I have a considerable amount of demands placed upon me. I also have more than an unusual amount of joy given to me by these same children.

I read Julie Crowley’s blog about replenishing oneself, and I’m often asked if I get any “me” time. The answer is yes, but I use that time in the gardens or reading late at night. I almost never read fiction anymore, this from a former media specialist,... more

I don’t know if it is an obsession or a deep concentration but as I go about my daily business, my brain whirls with thoughts of my children and how I can help them grow past their issues and problems. They all came to me as older children and I was denied the earliest opportunities for nurturing them. They were denied normal childhoods; trauma laden, abused and neglected instead.

I believe they are very resilient children, most of them at least, deeply desiring to become as normal as possible, if only to fit in better with others.

We as adults... more

One of my teenage daughters, who’ll turn 17 this summer, is wanting to like a guy in her school. I’m not so sure that this is a good idea for many, many reasons. I discourage dating in teenagers, I prefer that they wait until their college years or over age 18, as the emotional maturity level in older adopted children is not what it should be.

Often appearing older than their years, living with them and seeing their emotional neediness is another story.

I prefer that my kids participate in church youth group events, sports, school functions and... more

Sandra, on the older parent site, asked for ideas, suggestions and questions to blog on and my first thought was, “hmm, what’s too old?”

I was reading another post by Erin H and her love for large families and I got to thinking, cool, I’m old and we have a large family.

I had my 14th grandchild last night, little Estrella, absolutely thrilling me as this next generation... more