Published in Equality Includes You·Sep 8, 2020Dear Church Offering Me a Free “Foster Parent Night Out”My short answer is: no thank you. My long answer is: Can we talk, friend? — Dear Church Offering Me a Free Foster Parent Night Out, My short answer is: no thank you. My long answer is: Can we talk, friend? I’ve gotten a lot of offers like this, both for free babysitting and other free supports like Christmas gifts. They arrive in my email inbox…Foster Care5 min read
Jun 26, 2020Desolate Windswept Moors I Wish to Scream in After Reading My Child’s “Fall Options” School Email, Ranked6. Bodmin Moor (metal band-name level doom, yes pls) 5. Mynydd Hiraethog (probably sounds good to scream outloud) 4. The desolate windswept moors at the end of The Secret Garden (1993) 3. The desolate windswept moors of Rohan that Éowyn looks over from atop Edoras, hair flying like the banners of the Rohirrim in the wind, fearful yet brave as the future thunders ever towards her 2. Those desolate windswept Wuthering Heights moorsCovid 191 min read
Jun 10, 2020Fixing Foster Care: Your Summer Reading ListAs a foster parent and librarian, I’ve seen some shit. As we work to confront the structural racism of policing, foster care has come up as an equally broken world which actively and disproportionately harms Black and LGBTQ youth and their families. Which, no shit. I’ve had friends ask me…Books5 min read
Jun 3, 202025 Weakass Corporate Statements Made by Brands that are Too Chickenshit to say “Black Lives Matter”Madden Sports: “It’s G̶a̶m̶e̶ Time” Bratz dolls: “Our hearts break for George Floyd and the black community. Bratz has always been about diversity and inclusivity.” WNBA: “Bigger Than Ball” Old Navy: “at old navy, we believe that everyone is family, that we are better together, that we all belong.” Sephora…Black Lives Matter2 min read
Published in Equality Includes You·May 17, 2020My Foster Son Deserves to be with His Father, Even if COVID-19 Makes His Case Take LongerFoster care is the world’s slowest roller coaster in the best of times. — Foster care is the world’s slowest roller coaster in the best of times. We can all agree these are not the best of times. Quarantine has not — shockingly — changed this. If every court date in The Before Times seemed to dangle an ending like some kind of carrot…Racism6 min read
Published in The Haven·Apr 22, 2020The Kings & Queens of Narnia Regretfully Announce the Deaths of Mr. and Mrs. BeaverDearest Subjects, It pains us deeply that, as your recently crowned Kings and Queens of Narnia, we have the duty to announce the untimely deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Beaver. Let us explain. In the land of Spare Oom it had been known for some time that a mysterious, deadly…Narnia3 min read
Published in The Belladonna Comedy·Apr 22, 2020Hi! I’m The Target Dollar Spot And I’m Ready To Help You Shop For Earth Day!I didn’t know Earth Day décor was a thing I was supposed to be preparing my home so urgently for. — I am so glad you’re here! I have been waiting for this moment all year, and it is an honor — a thrill, really — to greet you at the door with my new Earth Day décor. Now, I know what you’re thinking. ‘Target Dollar Spot, I didn’t know Earth…3 min read
Mar 26, 2020Foster Parenting Prepared Me for Quarantine. Now Let Me Help You.“It sounds so scary, to not know what’s going to happen.” “I don’t know how you do it.” These are things people have said to me over the years when they learn I’m a foster mother. To many, foster parenting conjures up images of babies loved and waved goodbye to…Parenting4 min read
