adoption
Catharsis
November 19th, 2020 | adoption
There’s nothing like a rant to clear the decks. It feels great.
Danger, Independence, and Safety
October 25th, 2019 | adoption daily life
The hero, the cynic, and getting through things when others fail us.
His Own League
March 17th, 2018 | adoption
Recently I got a text message from another dad at school. “My son’s interested in joining/playing baseball with yours, can you tell me more about your league?” he asked. “Also is there a get-together at Fenton’s Ice Cream for the team tomorrow afternoon? We’ll try to make it.”
Anniversary, with Tween
February 21st, 2018 | adoption parenting
It was the 9th anniversary of the day we met, though not our wedding anniversary, which will be 5 years in August. My head spins at how quickly it goes.
An Hour of My Own
February 11th, 2018 | adoption
It’s Girl Scout cookie season, and you’ve got to hit it early and hit it hard. We had our booth set up on Solano Avenue. It was normally chilly for February, but somewhat of a shock after a hot, gorgeous week that was anything but normal. It’s fun to see the girls sell in a pack. When we first arrive and it’s just me and Shayla, she’s shy and doesn’t want to look at or interact with our potential customers, but once another girl or two are there the group sales mind takes over, and they’re chanting “Girl Scout Cookies” loud enough to be heard way down the block. You’re welcome, Peet’s Coffee patrons. And sorry.
Scream
January 17th, 2018 | adoption parenting
It comes in waves.
Chimneysweep
September 27th, 2017 | adoption
The first week of school, and other terrors.
Birth Mom
July 12th, 2017 | adoption
This is the story of a confusing but important relationship.
My Children Far, and Near
July 1st, 2017 | adoption parenting
We’re just back from a week at family camp.
Not Just a Sick Day
March 11th, 2017 | adoption
No matter how routine life gets, adoption has some special spikes in the road that are as predictable as they are surprising. I doubt I’ll ever be fully ready, but I’m getting better at it.
Not Ready For This
January 14th, 2017 | adoption
The horror movies that scared me most when young (back when I watched such things) were not the “jump out” gotcha movies, but rather the ones where there’s a slow-dawning realization that you’ve missed something important.
The Second-Worst Day
October 24th, 2016 | adoption
Shayla is attuned to everything going on around her. Precisely aware, for instance, of what her brother is getting away with, and whether it’s fair. But she doesn’t like to dwell on the past, whether 5 minutes or 5 years ago.
Puppy Medicine
September 19th, 2016 | adoption daily life
It wasn’t long after we started trying marijuana that we realized we wanted another dog. Even though the pot was being ingested by our elderly dog Finnegan, I’m sure more than one person hearing this news will think we’re high on drugs ourselves, but no.
Summer Storms and Switching Places
August 6th, 2016 | adoption parenting
I should know not to tempt fate. Maybe a year ago I started feeling cocky, like we’d gotten this parenting thing down. Nobody knows what they’re doing, of course, but I felt we’re going to survive it—the adults, the kids, our marriage. I felt that everyone will emerge, more or less, unscathed.
Four Years
March 27th, 2016 | adoption
We just saw Laurie Anderson’s lovely documentary Heart of a Dog, about losing her mother and her Rat Terrier Lola Bell, and obliquely about losing Lou Reed. It’s really about memory and loss and the strange business of being alive.
She Doesn’t Like Surprises
February 29th, 2016 | adoption
You can know someone for a long time and still not get it.
Animal Story
October 22nd, 2015 | adoption daily life parenting
In my (priviledged) experience, you have to look pretty hard in Berkeley to find somebody who’ll object to gays, or two guys raising children, polytheistic and vegetarian. (We’re actually omnivores, that last bit just an example). I don’t think my expressive dance therapy, Ojai psychic, or Reiki training could manage a rolled eye for at least 2 miles in any direction.
Spring, Break
April 9th, 2015 | adoption
Jaden and I were driving back from getting his kindergarten immunization records. He’s off. It’s our second Spring Break for 2015, a bit more pragmatic. We’re getting errands done.
Happy Mother’s Day
May 11th, 2014 | adoption
Did you ever set out with clear sights and end up doing exactly the wrong thing?
The Art of Not Doing
December 23rd, 2013 | adoption
It’s only the first day of the kids two week vacation, and maybe it’s time to admit I’m not as skilled as I’d like to be at relaxing.