Search Results for: blog not the acceptance that was expected

The Importance of Acceptance in Single Parenting

When I talk to people who are relatively new to single parenting, one of the things I often hear is “I never really expected I would be doing this alone!” This has led me to a personal philosophy that anyone who considers parenthood should consider whether or not they are able to be single parents, but that is another article altogether. What I have learned from talking with other single parents is that “acceptance” is the first step on the road to becoming a great and present single parent. Sure, some of us choose single parenting as a first choice, … Continue reading →

Acceptance Comes Before Change

Resistance and Denial can be a single parent’s best friends–at least in the beginning. After a while, we realize that all this fighting and resisting we are doing, and all the energy we put into denial may be better spent elsewhere. At some point, the day comes when we realize that acceptance is really the first step before we can make room for real change. When I say “acceptance” I do not mean giving up and giving in. Acceptance is really about ceasing to resist reality and admitting that what is, is. Think of it this way, if you get … Continue reading →

Acceptance of Adopted Children by Extended Family

Posted on by

Statistics show that the least likely children to be adopted in this country are African American. Most people looking to adopt are white. One of the reasons given by people who reject these children is that they are concerned about whether their extended family members would accept them. Four of our five adopted children are African American. My wife and I are in the racial minority in our household. We would not have it any other way. Our grown children were not at all surprised. As a family, we had been doing church work that targeted disadvantaged people of color … Continue reading →

Not the Acceptance that Was Expected

After the welcoming reception of Lisa and Ryan’s first daughter Cassie, these again proud parents expected the arrival of their new daughter Maxine to be met with the same excitement and welcome as their first. Many years prior to Cassie’s arrival Ryan’s father and step-mother (who herself was adopted), lost closeness with him due to circumstances around his parent’s divorce. There had been hard feelings as a result since. But their acceptance of Ryan and Lisa’s one year old daughter gave new hope for the uniting of the extended family. A couple years passed and things seemed to go well. … Continue reading →

Tips for Coping After Losing Your Spouse

Posted on by

Losing a loved one can be very traumatic, especially when the person who has passed away was your spouse. Grief is something that you cannot rush or outsource, and it will take as long as it needs to. Here are some tips for coping after losing your spouse. Five Stages of Grief People who have lost a spouse are going to be feeling a flood of emotions. You might find some comfort in knowing that what you are experiencing is something that all humans go through. Let yourself feel whatever emotion it is you are feeling, and realize that this … Continue reading →

The 84th Academy Awards

The 84th Academy Awards is over and it was record setting. For the first time since 1929 (when Wings won), a silent film, The Artist has taken the Best Picture statue. It was also the first movie filmed in the 4:3 aspect ratio to win Best Picture since 1955. It was the first non R-rated film to get Best Picture since 2004 (when Million Dollar Baby won). Jean Dujardin because the first Frenchman to win a Best Actor award. Was his acceptance speech charming or what? Michel Hazanavicius becomes only the second Frenchman to win Best Director (Roman Polanski, who … Continue reading →

Special Needs Children and Obesity

I have heard a lot of talk about obesity in children. Advice to prevent that ranges from “feed your child better foods” to “turn off the video games”. Parents of kids who have certain special needs require more tools than those pieces of advice. Your child’s medications could be affecting his or her weight. Kids that are extremely overweight, or obese, face certain health risks. They may develop insulin resistance, hypertension, or type 2 diabetes. These kids could be experiencing sleep apnea, which means that they are unable to get restful sleep. Some children who are overweight will begin puberty … Continue reading →

PetPlan Has Tips to Keep Dogs Safe This July 4th

Posted on by

Most people enjoy celebrating Independence Day. There are barbecues to attend, and fireworks to watch. Unfortunately, those things can cause your pets to feel anxious. It could also expose them to potentially dangerous situations. Petplan Insurance has good advice about how to keep your pets safe this 4th of July. How does your family celebrate Independence Day? This weekend is going to be filled with parades, backyard barbecues, and, of course, fireworks. Many people get a day off of work to relax, spend time with their families, and enjoy some 4th of July celebrations. These types of events can be … Continue reading →

China Adoption Book Review Series: China Ghosts

Posted on by

Like Karin Evans, author of The Lost Daughters of China, Jeff Gammage is a journalist. His memoir, written seven years after Evans’, is entitled China Ghosts: My Daughter’s Journey to America, my Journey to Fatherhood. The title is apt: while Gammage credits Kay Ann Johnson, author of Wanting a Daughter, Needing a Son: Abandonment and Orphanage Care in China with helping him understand the context of his daughter’s story, his own book focuses much more tightly on his story and his daughter’s. Gammage and his wife Christine adopted a two year old in Aug 2002. His memoir is valuable for … Continue reading →

Single Parent By…….

There are several different categories as to how one becomes a single parent. You are either a single parent by choice, a single parent due to never having been married for other reasons, a single parent due to divorce, or a single parent due to widowhood, the death of your spouse. Each of these categories has very unique circumstances surrounding them. If you are a single parent by choice you are probably very self-sufficient and presumably fearless in your undertaking to be a single parent. Most likely, you are successful and secure and the need for a partner is not … Continue reading →