14 September 2018, by We Are Family (2784 views)

Toxic Ambivalence

I’ve recently had a school-related episode that has given me much heartache and pause for thought. Another mother’s ambivalence towards my daughter. How she supported her daughter's ambivalence. And where all that has left my child. Her anxiety levels are rocketing. But it is all so subtle. You wouldn’t know it if you don’t know her. How she speaks too fast, too loud, doesn’t listen, bumps into things and people too hard. Dysregulation, my old friend. Normally I see it coming, but somehow I didn’t this time.

08 June 2018, by We Are Family (159 views)

Honey Cake! - It all began with Winnie the Pooh.

We have recently gone through a phase of making and eating a lot (almost too much) honey cake. Some weeks we have made one every single day and it all began way back with Winnie the Pooh.

Honey Cake! - It all began with Winnie the Pooh.

27 April 2018, by We Are Family (545 views)

Growing up.

I left my nearly 10 year old daughter at home, on her own, for the first time last week.

I knew she was tired and that a 10 minute walk to collect her sister from a local playdate would be met with moaning and groaning, so I gave her the option of staying at home whilst I popped out...

30 March 2018, by We Are Family (586 views)

Bedtime Stories

....I’d share some of the books that have helped our family along the way as we wrestled with tangled feelings and attachments, not adoption books per se, just beautiful stories. So, this is not exactly a review, not exactly a blog, just some thoughts on the healing power of story.

16 March 2018, by We Are Family (92 views)

What the Actual...

......I once told off a Dad at a football match for swearing in front of his 7-year-old son and told them both off even more when his son aimed the swearing at me... And had the audacity to tell the Dad off and to say “Look what you’ve taught your son to do – how proud you must be.” And surprisingly got away without a split lip for my trouble.

29 September 2017, by We Are Family (91 views)

In the eyes of the beholder.

I have just come me home from a wedding where one of the guests leaned across the table and asked "Is that your daughter running around?" When I answered in the affirmative she triumphantly announced to the table "I knew it! She is the absolute image of you! It's like someone has taken a blue print of you and put it into a little person.”

30 June 2017, by We Are Family (92 views)

The First Time.

When I found your profile you were 5 years old and I fell in love instantly - they say you know when you find the one, but to be honest I didn't believe them.

12 May 2017, by We Are Family (457 views)

Four Years

Four years ago today you arrived in our home twinkly and tiny and so brave under the circumstances... Or did we misread that? In retrospect you must have been flooded with fear...

28 April 2017, by We Are Family (80 views)

3 horsemen

I have to resolve this.

I need to move through it.

I can't go under it.

I can't get over it.

I need to go through it.

03 February 2017, by We Are Family (61 views)

Beatings

It almost broke my heart. She wouldn’t leave my side to join the hordes of screaming girls running up and down the stairs at the birthday party. And I told her I had to go, at first imploringly, but then a little tinged with anger. She held on to my leg and begged me not to. So I stayed. But not with good grace.