tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38042576785621126602024-03-07T10:03:45.030-06:00Celebrating All FamiliesBlog about my life in general...being a former foster parent, a transracial adoptive mom, an avid gardener and a wannabe urban homesteader.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger173125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-72085923880066338732009-08-07T21:55:00.003-06:002009-08-07T22:15:20.545-06:00Resisting SuburbiaAhhhh. Finally.<br /><br />We have a contract on the house. We have a contract on a new house. An acre in suburbia. An entire acre. I won't know what to do with myself. I'm hoping the kids will run around the yard for hours a day and collapse into their beds at night like perfect angels. Nice deam right?<br /><br />I've been doing alot of dreaming lately. I'm hoping this will be our last move. The place where we raise our kids and retire. I'm dreaming of gardening and greening up the house (rain barrels anyone?)<br /><br />I'm no longer thinking about foster parenting. It's kind of nice. No social worker visits. No court dates. Just us and our crazy, loud, boisterous kids. My family.<br /><br />I haven't been posting much here at Celebrating All Families. I don't know if I will continue to update here..... But I have started chronicling our new family adventures at <a href="http://resistingsuburbia.blogspot.com/">http://resistingsuburbia.blogspot.com/</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-49131949388374705852009-05-27T08:46:00.003-06:002009-05-27T08:52:37.466-06:00A Year of SeizuresIt's been a year since Charlie starting having <a href="http://celebratingallfamilies.blogspot.com/2008/05/scared.html">seizures</a>. I remember clearly how scared I was that first time. My barely one year old baby boy shaking, not a ble to breathe, those minutes seemed like a lifetime of worry. Now seizures are so commonplace in our life we barely stop for one. Even on two different seizure medications twice a day Charlie still has seizures regularly.<br /><br />This Memorial Day weekend, like last year, Charlie was sick with a fever. Fevers are his biggest trigger. The seizures are bigger and more numerous if his temperature goes up. Today I'm alternating between Ibuprofen and Acetimenophen to try to keep the seizures away.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-33662817698226128532009-05-20T08:15:00.002-06:002009-05-20T08:18:37.304-06:00We Couldn't All Be CowboysLooked at more houses this week. I figured out why I am so scared of the suburbs. I think the city values it's unique individuals. Freaks are an important part of city culture, I'm afraid of moving to a place that values sameness.<br /><br />There have been many times in my life when I've refined my goals and set new ones. This time though I'm having a hard time balancing the needs of an entire family and how that fits into what we want collectively and what each one of us needs. Layers of complication.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-50134512158604577792009-05-15T10:15:00.002-06:002009-05-15T10:19:03.830-06:00Mortgages and hopeWe're kind of stuck in a holding pattern here....hoping someone will buy our house....hoping a house we love comes on the market. In the mean time we busy ourselves with what little control we do have. Today we're getting preapproved for another mortgage so we're ready when the universe is ready for us. We spend time every day fighting a losing battle to keep the house "showable" with three little ones underfoot.<br /><br />I'm changing the lightbulbs to brighter ones, I'm painting touchups over nicks in the walls.<br /><br />I'm dreaming of chicken tractors and worm bins. I'm plotting how many apple trees I'll plant in the new yard. I'm pouring over Realtor.com listings hoping for something new.<br /><br />I'm putting it out to the universe.....and waiting to see what comes back.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-38184798301071021982009-05-14T11:54:00.002-06:002009-05-14T11:57:44.939-06:00Field TripToday was Josie's school field trip to the zoo. We had a great time. It's not very often (never really) that I get one on one time with any of my kids. It's really calm and wonderful. I wonder if this is what it's like for someone with one child. Wow.<br /><br />It also makes me realize how over my head I am most of the time. People who have children by childbirth and not adoption might end up with one special needs child. I have three. I choose three. This is ALOT of work.<br /><br />It's nice to have a day like today and slow down and enjoy the company of my child.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-19081445563465175042009-05-09T05:57:00.002-06:002009-05-09T05:59:32.710-06:00Farmers MarketToday is the first day of the season for our favorite Farmers Market. I've been up since 5:30 thinking about fresh strawberries and asparagus. You have to get there early or they'll sell out. We're planning on arriving 15 minutes before they officially open.<br /><br /><br />One day I'll have enough space to grow everything I want to eat.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-74488189640829772972009-05-07T08:37:00.002-06:002009-05-07T08:40:39.191-06:00Too Long....It's been too long since I've updated this blog. Mainly because well....our drama has decreased! Since we're no longer foster parents our schedule is lighter....no more social worker visits, court dates...ahhhh.<br /><br /><br />We're looking at moving into a different house. My babies aren't babies anymore and they need more room to roam outside out of my hair. So much energy! It's crazy hard trying to keep our current home showable all the time. I think I wipe dirty handprints off the walls and windows daily.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-4402362853195331532009-03-11T11:58:00.000-06:002009-03-11T12:00:55.184-06:00Introducing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yHr-toXaTtAaX4Ekt_O7V81Vz-RZiA4ROU5h2hkr8c-hfbz7MooHWYvK-2l4uSXn1KY1ZoGWMDMOZG1-gyD7VqO5vjnNeSq9MAxEoVudDHkhxi4bMv34AkHu8wfCOHd4bcNd6zrvNIbX/s1600-h/1smileclose.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yHr-toXaTtAaX4Ekt_O7V81Vz-RZiA4ROU5h2hkr8c-hfbz7MooHWYvK-2l4uSXn1KY1ZoGWMDMOZG1-gyD7VqO5vjnNeSq9MAxEoVudDHkhxi4bMv34AkHu8wfCOHd4bcNd6zrvNIbX/s320/1smileclose.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311991643210898562" border="0" /></a>Introducing.....my son. Choo Choo Charlie. My family is complete.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-25958869296747012892009-02-28T09:10:00.000-06:002009-02-28T09:12:02.781-06:00DoneIn less than a week I will no longer be a foster parent! Choo Choo's adoption date has been set and we will be letting our license expire. No more rollercoaster.....Shhhh.. I guess I shouldn't say that out loud. The last time I did my nephew almost came into care.<br /><br />It's the end of an era for us.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-19114026590935485362009-01-12T09:47:00.002-06:002009-01-12T09:58:00.738-06:00Keeping upMondays.....uggg.<br /><br />Somehow over the weekend laundry doubles, dirty dishes sneak to odd places in the house and the list of things to do is longer than ever.<br /><br />I hate mondays. I'm sitting here typing trying to get up the energy to face a mountain of tasks.<br /><br />maybe more coffee will help.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-16556070706071444832009-01-07T09:35:00.003-06:002009-01-07T09:40:45.686-06:00TPRAlmost a <a href="http://celebratingallfamilies.blogspot.com/2008/02/im-shocked.html">year ago I wrote</a> that the judge ordered TPR and Adoption for Choo Choo's case. Today the day is here. Choo's parents Termination of Parental Rights Trial is today. (deep breath)<br /><br />As a foster parent days like today are nerve wrecking. On one hand I'm praying the judge will let Choo finally have some permanancy after almost two years in care. I'm praying that finally my son can become, my son. On the other hand I know that this is the day that his parents, who do care for him very much, lose their son. As a daughter that breaks my heart. As a mom that breaks my heart.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-73046237809752246822009-01-05T09:39:00.002-06:002009-01-05T09:43:44.924-06:00Rolling AlongWe're still rolling along here.<br /><br />My mom went home to her house and had some complications with her blood pressure so she is back here with us so we could keep a closer eye on her. She's never been one to sit still and she's ready to go home again. Her follow up with the surgeon is today.<br /><br />Winter break is over today....yeah for school! Having all three home together is a constant fight over toys, tv, chairs....everything. Someday they will love each other right? Right?<br /><br />I'm pouring over my new seed catalogs and dreaming of better weather. I ordered Johnny's Seeds catalog for the first time. I'm in love...so many varieties, so many pictures.....ahhhh.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-757235008552764672008-12-17T17:15:00.004-06:002008-12-17T17:29:04.777-06:00Thriving in StressAs a foster parent I think we get used to thriving in stress. The ambush of a new placement, rushing to get clothes, furniture, formula/food, doctors appointments all at a moments notice.<br /><br />Today is such a day.<br /><br />My mom had a quadruple bypass this past week and is being discharged today. She'll be coming to live with us permanently this evening. I'm a little scared at the idea of having to care for and please one more person. Even though it's my mom....actually probably because it's my mom....babies have no standards they expect in their care. Moms do. LOL<br /><br />Some friends who have been expecting their first foster placement for months now got the call today. Tomorrow I'll be watching a little one with a broken leg. Makes my heart break.<br /><br />My hands are full, but at least we've learned to thrive when under stress.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-26889980569040308662008-11-17T17:44:00.003-06:002008-11-17T17:47:56.995-06:00Still HereWe're still here and doing a bit better. Everything is swooshing past me as we enter the holiday season. I'm still busy gardening and hoping to get one more visit in to the farmer's market before it vanishes for the season.<br /><br />Nothing is moving forward in Choo Choo's case.....just waiting for February to come. The girls are enjoying school and Lili is even trying her best at potty training.<br /><br />I've added more blogs to my daily read....my interest veer off from foster parenting now that we are near the end of the road in our journey though....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-50387430722094878732008-10-28T10:14:00.003-06:002008-10-28T10:29:45.579-06:00Kids these daysI haven't written much about the kids here lately because I don't know what to say without sounding like I'm whining just as much as my kids.<br /><br />The kids are all having some rough times and we are just stretched thin. If it were just one of them I think we might be able to cope better. But they all are having some issues.<br /><br />We're going to start seeing some professionals for them soon and hopefully we'll feel a little more refreshed soon too.<br /><br />I have no energy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-76022519372033508842008-10-18T12:29:00.002-06:002008-10-18T12:31:43.361-06:00GardeningEven though summer has waned I'm still busy trying to squeeze in a few more things....winter onions, more peas and spinach and lettuce.<br /><br />I'm obsessively seed saving too. I bought some beautiful striped eggplant from the farmers market last week just for the seeds. Fall is always what gets me in trouble.<br /><br />The planning of next years garden is always so exciting. I'll be cursing myself next year when spring opens up and I have way too many projects planned.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-67655672850604472892008-10-14T13:03:00.001-06:002008-10-14T13:05:08.700-06:00Wishing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBSR2o3TYU9eiMykMzvA8KbGmaza3bE-Akq3i4RTQazmxxeTFJgLURie9RxReajSCCOdWf-hRc8DgR1Mh278mMk1UUoTga4bEy3segVVPdep4mxyLlxcxossv2UE6JURrhXZyMK-49nvm/s1600-h/minisunsetbird.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBSR2o3TYU9eiMykMzvA8KbGmaza3bE-Akq3i4RTQazmxxeTFJgLURie9RxReajSCCOdWf-hRc8DgR1Mh278mMk1UUoTga4bEy3segVVPdep4mxyLlxcxossv2UE6JURrhXZyMK-49nvm/s320/minisunsetbird.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257087614202770578" border="0" /></a><br />Wishing I was back at the beach today.....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-11374698280589924382008-10-06T18:25:00.003-06:002008-10-06T18:27:59.046-06:00Too LongI feel like summer slipped away and fall was here before I even realized it. Charlie and I haven't been able to go on bike rides and play dates like I thought we would once the girls were in school.<br /><br />My mornings fill up quickly with cooking, laundry, dishes, driving to school.... I look up and it's nap time. Time to get really get things done without a little one underfoot. My goodness time flies.<br /><br /><br />The days are long but the years are short.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-51384622619255707962008-09-11T08:52:00.002-06:002008-09-11T09:01:01.480-06:00TravelWe travel a lot. It's a major part of our family's goals. Being from a small town I didn't see much of the world and therefore didn't get to know much beyond the culture of the midwestern US. Heck I'm just now realizing most of my values and cultural views have to do with my midwestern roots.<br /><br />I want my kids to know and understand the many different people that live on this earth. So seeing the world beyond their home is important to me. We have larger (abroad) trips planned for as the kids get older. But for now we'll continue to see the US and check out the different regions while the kiddos are young. Our fall trip will be to explore different cohousing communities in the Pacific Northwest.<br /><br />Next week we head south to Florida. Not really for the culture but more for the marine life. Dolphins, crabs, jellyfish - Choo Choo is already sooooo excited. He loves fish, our trip to the New England aquarium totally enraptured him. He has been pouring over the fish board book I got for him from the library for this trip....so much so that I can't find it. If you were 1 1/2 where would you hide your treasured fish book?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-64126299421597985792008-08-28T10:10:00.003-06:002008-08-28T10:35:08.353-06:00Sickies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJgrPpHINo1EsESoliNm7Vw-BiIIC4jXRbyCgWrAxNLTlSZ1P3_bNmOiXQOpTzJM_wdlvZZUEECWiwg1UZ67W7t13fK_g3ZvmB-4cTKthtdjOJBh8hoWQHz4_2Dt8GTQgPfUCuhJkMfPq/s1600-h/GetSmart-runnynose2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJgrPpHINo1EsESoliNm7Vw-BiIIC4jXRbyCgWrAxNLTlSZ1P3_bNmOiXQOpTzJM_wdlvZZUEECWiwg1UZ67W7t13fK_g3ZvmB-4cTKthtdjOJBh8hoWQHz4_2Dt8GTQgPfUCuhJkMfPq/s320/GetSmart-runnynose2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239601729538066626" border="0" /></a><br />It's the second week of school. The germs we avoided this summer have been brought home to roost. Just when I thought I couldn't blow my nose one more time....it moved to my chest. Lili is at the doctor today, I think hers settled into a sinus infection. <br /><br />DP & Josie who both sleep like rocks have yet to catch it. Sleep must equal a stronger immune system. I must try that sometime.<br /><br />Besides bringing us all a case of the sickies, school has been amazing. I was so worried after enrollment day but not anymore. Both teachers are just wonderful. Lili's teacher has even assigned her a one-on-one aid that will help her navigate hallways and stairs and help her eat in the lunchroom with the other kiddos. This is something that we were bracing for a fight for. In an overcrowded district without funds we never thought it would be this easy to get her help. Luckily she has a truly amazing teacher who sees her needs, fills them and then lets us know. Wow. Just like how it's supposed to work. Who woulda thought.<br /><br />Having a full day of school has done wonders for Jo's outbursts. Her energy has been used up during the day so she comes home truly calm and enjoyable. She actually plays quietly and imaginatively by herself in the evenings when I'm cooking and getting things ready for the next day. No more pinball of pent up energy. My nerves are starting to unfrazzle. I see the need for organized sports in her future.<br /><br /><br />Choo Choo has been eating up all the mama attention. He's made a break through in speech since he's been home by himself. At 19 months he's finally figuring out that sounds get him things and he went Helen Keller style though the house labeling everything he could with his limited vocabulary of "buh, puh, tuh, kih, dah, & mah"<br />He's had speech, occupational & physical therapy since he was born. I would hate to imagine where he would be at this point without such intense early intervention. He's really doing well right now and becoming such a big boy.<br /><br />Choo Choo's case through DFS has been delayed (no suprise there right?) though. Even though the TPR trial was ordered in <a href="http://celebratingallfamilies.blogspot.com/2008/02/im-shocked.html">February</a> it isn't scheduled until January of 2009 now. Why do you ask? Because his SW is on medical leave and the DFS attorney is going on maternity leave so we won't do anything on his case until they are both back at the same time. which will be oh....6 months. We thought we might have a fall adoption....HA!<br /><br />Everything happens for a reason right?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-23801420794259818792008-08-19T10:50:00.003-06:002008-08-19T11:05:25.017-06:00Gardening 2008Gardening is something that gives me a great amount of peace and sense of accomplishment. This time last year we were wallowing in a <a href="http://celebratingallfamilies.blogspot.com/2007/07/bumper-crop.html">bumper crop</a> of peppers, tomatoes, squash and zucchini.<br /><br />Not so this year. After our 3 week vacation I came back to a pretty stressed out garden. Most was turning brown and dying even though I had paid a neighborhood handyman to water everything for me.<br /><br />I've picked one tomato, one pepper and handful of peas, lettuce & berries. I'm gearing up again though and planting more lettuce, peas & carrots, some spinach & bunching onions. I placed a small order from <a href="http://www.seedsofchange.com/default.asp">Seeds of Change</a>, my first. I've read about them over the past year as I follow the trials and tribulations in <a href="http://thebodiebunch.blogspot.com/">Big Mama's</a> gardening adventures. Before I plant my new seeds I'm going to move the containers back to last year's spot to see if I do any better. I keep dreaming of the day when I have a large enough space to plant a garden like my Aunt Pauline's. As a kid I was in awe of how many vegetables she grew right outside her back door.<br /><br />I've been reading <a href="http://animalvegetablemiracle.com/">Animal, Vegetable, Miracle</a> this past week and I'm in love. As an avid user of the local library it's rare that I find a book that I like enough to actually want to own. This is an exception. It's already lead me to place a request for <a href="http://www.cheesemaking.com/store/p/2-Home-Cheese-Making.html">Home Cheesemaking</a> from the library. AVM has so many good tidbits I'm hoping to read it one more time before it's due next week.<br /><br />I love learning new things, especially things I can make with my hands. I'm utterly buzzing with excitement about the prospect of making homemade mozzarella cheese.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-24815703935101123462008-08-18T10:42:00.003-06:002008-08-18T10:53:49.658-06:00First Day of Public School<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-ACgkwf0HOOP1DqvyRQDAve-t2_Me563zh02H9VrejSIvyysjTSgLgMGmn5QSq0UADfaZMgc_ZbuwQKMAe-MAqY5aWUNZfBbhifZUmNAawlxFayWxZ-uloRpv4LST_KbGGGM7uxN6m4N/s1600-h/minifirstdayschool.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-ACgkwf0HOOP1DqvyRQDAve-t2_Me563zh02H9VrejSIvyysjTSgLgMGmn5QSq0UADfaZMgc_ZbuwQKMAe-MAqY5aWUNZfBbhifZUmNAawlxFayWxZ-uloRpv4LST_KbGGGM7uxN6m4N/s320/minifirstdayschool.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5235900167032976178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />My babies are off to school.<br /><br />I left Lili having a complete meltdown, crying, with snot streaming down her face. I feel horrible- but every time I peeked into her room she got new energy and started going stronger. I hope she's settled down by now. She's so sensitive to change. I hope the teacher can entice her into participating eventually. She does love school, just not change of any sort.<br /><br />Jo took off running, immediately finding a new friend (Angel is her best friend she tells me....after 5 minutes) and walked holding her hand to her classroom. She's so ready for this. My social butterfly. She is going to be in her element today.<br /><br />Choo is down for his morning nap. My house is quiet and I'm quite happy about it. My to-do list is already finished and I'm writing another one.<br /><br />Mama needed this break in routine. Ahh, this feels so nice. I think I'll water the flowers and linger in the garden this morning.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-15089922213589100762008-08-03T21:17:00.003-06:002008-08-03T21:24:31.911-06:00Hurry up school!My kids are driving me bonkers. Tomorrow's heat index is 107 so we're stuck inside with the AC again. They're bouncing off the walls like pinballs. Ding, ding, ding.<br /><br />I think I'm gonna lose my voice yelling:<br /><br />"don't touch that, we don't climb on the stove, quit hitting your brother, don't pull the cat's tail, quit fighting, get down from there, leave your sister alone"<br /><br />What in the world possessed me to have three kids so close in age?<br /><br />Two more weeks until school starts. Hurry up school!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-285539398628861252008-07-28T10:59:00.004-06:002008-07-29T12:48:34.555-06:00Race YaWe've been having some big discussions in the Fostermamas house lately. As we look further in relocating one big theme is coming up.<br /><br />Race & Education<br /><br />As transracial adoptive parents we have a responsibility beyond typical parenting. I want my kids to be smart, healthy and happy and I want them to be strong black citizens.<br /><br />As we look into communities we're often judging how racially "diverse" they are. While reading an old post at <a href="http://www.antiracistparent.com/2007/07/11/still-maplewood-wrong-side-of-the-tracks/">Antiracistparent</a> I began to delve deeper into my feelings on that subject. Part of the post there quoted:<br /><blockquote>Barry-Austin recalled a New York Times article from several years ago that looked at South Orange and its racial make-up (Preserving a Delicate Balance by Andrew Jacobs: May 18, 1997.) In it, the author cited the words of Professor Douglas S. Massey, a professor of sociology at the University of Pennsylvania and the author of ”American Apartheid: Segregation and the Making of the Underclass” (Harvard University Press, 1993.) Professor Massey spoke of surveys in which African-Americans respondents describe a neighborhood as ideally integrated when the racial composition is a 50/50 mixture of the two races. To most of the white people surveyed, on the other hand, integration meant more of an 80/20 mixture (heavy on the whites, please.)</blockquote>How much diversity are we looking for? Is there a number I can put on it? Historically St. Louis' racial census has been 50/50....but that does not mean you can go into any neighborhood and find that diversity. Like many urban cities we are still very segregated. AA communities to the north and Caucasian communities to the south. Our lack of integrated diverse community options had us thinking that maybe we should just look into strong black communities instead.<br /><br />Then I had to go and watch <a href="http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2008/black.in.america/">CNN's Black in America, The Black Woman & Family</a>. One of the interviews was with a Harvard professor who quoted that children in undevoloped countries get a better education than black children in this country. God that makes my heart sink. I know that there is a huge gap in the resources that historically black schools receive compared to white schools. They quoted the drop out rate among black high school students as 50%. FIFTY percent. I don't want my kids to be that statistic. What parent does?<br /><br />I don't want my kids to struggle, I want to give them every educational opportunity I can. Since my kids all have some special needs I know I'm going have to advocate to make sure that they already get some of the same educational advantages typically developing children receive. We're already seeing how hard that can be in a school district with no funds. (This week we enrolled the girls in the local magnet school that they were accepted in -boy that's another post)<br /><br />I want to live somewhere where rich white folk pay high taxes so my kids can go to a great school. I want my kids to attend schools where the teachers are highly educated and credentialed. I want schools that have the latest technology and state of the art science labs. Typically that's a white community. Why does that make me feel so uneasy? Am I using racism and white privilege to my advantage instead of fighting the man?<br /><br />A long time ago I read the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Rights-Harvest-Constance-Curry/dp/0156004798">Silver Rights</a> about one family's fight to send their kids to the local white school after the Civil Rights Act of 1964 mandated the desegregation of all public schools. I remember thinking after I read that book that I would make sure that my kids took advantage of every opportunity that they paved the way for.<br /><br />But as a transracial family it's not that easy.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3804257678562112660.post-34474649731348179262008-07-16T10:12:00.002-06:002008-07-16T10:16:36.165-06:00More Cohousing ResearchWe're still very interested in cohousing....even more so when you really wish you knew your neighbors well enough that you could leave your 4 yr olds with them while you take your baby to the emergency room.<br /><br />We visited the local cohousing group that is still in the process of retrofitting buildings. We really liked their eco focus but I don't think it will have enough green space to make me happy. I'm getting tired of living in a sea of concrete.<br /><br />This weekend we'll be taking a trip to Lawrence KS to visit the cohousing community there.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0