Shannon2818

LATEST ARTICLES ( 80 )

• Diversity in Detroit

  I won’t pretend that Detroit Public Schools (DPS) are diverse, although they’re just about as diverse as most of the suburban schools. Read more

  Posted on 05 September 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• A Story of Her Own

  BE is only peripherally aware of this blog. She knows the name of it, and she knows that I write about being an adoptive mother and about living in Detroit. At... Read more

  Posted on 25 August 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• My Two Doppelgangers

  

  I don’t really have two, or even one, doppelgängers, but over the last four years, people have been telling me and J how much our kids look like us. This... Read more

  Posted on 12 August 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• The Forgotten Garden

  I read a lot of adoptee blogs, and one message I often encounter is that adoptees don’t always see adoption as entirely (or at all) positive. Read more

  Posted on 31 July 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• What’s Your Opinion on “Gotcha Day?”

  My nearly-tween daughter, BE, has long since given up cartoons for Disney Channel shows and movies such as “Hannah Montana” and “Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure. Read more

  Posted on 19 July 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• The Two Words of the Soul

  J and I have really benefited from the Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control books by Heather Forbes and Bryan Post, and I’ve written a lot about how we’ve... Read more

  Posted on 08 July 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• Happy Adoption Day #3

  

  On June 25, 2010, we celebrated adoption day at the courthouse. The kids were just 5 and 2 when the adoption was finalized. Now, they’re 8 and 5 and about to... Read more

  Posted on 03 July 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• The Dangers of Hand-me-downs

  

  Here’s why you should always check out your kids’ hand-me-downs before they wear them out in public. I didn’t notice this one until weeks after BE got it.... Read more

  Posted on 24 June 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• When Work is More Appealing Than Staying Home

  I have a confession: I’m nervous about being home with my kids just two days a week this summer. I’ve been working full-time for most of the years the kids... Read more

  Posted on 12 June 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• It’s Fun to Stay at the Boll Family YMCA

  

  The Boll Family YMCA in Downtown Detroit is beautiful. BE participates in Girls on the Run there and both kids attend the Y’s school break camps. BE was really... Read more

  Posted on 29 May 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• Wayne State Weekend School of Music

  

  A lot of people are surprised to find out about all the great resources for kids in Detroit. One of my new favorites in the Wayne State University Weekend Schoo... Read more

  Posted on 18 May 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• Girls (on the Run) Just Wanna Have Fun

  

  Meet the newest poster girl for Girls on the Run: BE at her first day of Girls on the Run What’s Girls on the Run, you ask? It’s a program for young girls... Read more

  Posted on 15 May 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• Another Mother’s Day

  I’ve written in the past about my uneasiness with Mother’s Day, and now I’ve found a new reason to dislike the holiday. One of my fellow Shetroit bloggers... Read more

  Posted on 12 May 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• I’m 33

  

  There’s a local Ethiopian restaurant that I LOVE, but I’ve been very nervous about taking the kids there. My birthday was earlier this week, and I decided to... Read more

  Posted on 10 May 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• My New Blogging Project

  I’m very proud to be a new member of the blogging team at Shetroit.com! Shetroit.com (a play on “Detroit”) focuses on local women’s inspiring stories. Read more

  Posted on 07 May 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• How to Give up Complaining

  I recently committed to give up complaining. I was recently at a meeting of local women writers, and we were asked to share one thing that we could give up. Read more

  Posted on 24 April 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• Michigan Radio: Adoption and Early Childhood Trauma

  I’m a big fan of Michigan Radio (the local NPR affiliate) and I’ve often linked to stories the station has done as part of a project called “State of... Read more

  Posted on 12 April 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• When Your Child is a Hoarder

  BE isn’t really a hoarder, but she does show a lot of interest in trash. She always wants to pick up things that she finds lying around, such as a broken... Read more

  Posted on 18 March 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• An Afternoon at Belle Isle

  

  Since we moved to Detroit, we’re fortunate to live just a few minutes from Belle Isle. With some money, the park could be really beautiful, but even with out it... Read more

  Posted on 11 March 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING

• We Love Eastern Market

  

  I love shopping at Eastern Market because there are so many fresh, local products to choose from, even in the winter. My kids love it because there’s so much... Read more

  Posted on 05 March 2013 FAMILY, PARENTING