Pam Connell's comments

Adopting When You Already Have Children: Birth Order and Spacing - Blog Entry

29 Aug 2009 01:10 PM

It just occurred to me that my above comment about two other bloggers adopting sibling groups is rather funny because my daughters are also half-siblings, although I did not adopt them at one time--the agency called us when they found an infant half-sister who is three years younger than my first daughter.

Adopting When You Already Have Children: Birth Order and Spacing - Blog Entry

29 Aug 2009 01:08 PM

I think you are right that gender can increase or decrease competition--we were open to adopting girls who were only 1 year younger than our son, but really wanted same-gender children to be about 2.5 years apart.

Good luck on your adoption plans--please keep us posted!

PS you might enjoy some of the older blogs in this category, as two of our former adoption bloggers adopted sibling groups.

Overcoming Weight Loss Obstacles - Blog Entry

22 Aug 2009 10:42 PM

Mary Ann--I know what it's like to be sidelined with injuries--but isn't wonderful that you're now at a place where you are "itching" to get back to exercise! Your body is getting trained!

My Weight Loss Journey - Blog Entry

22 Aug 2009 10:38 PM

Mary Ann--I LOVE your analogy about treating our bodies like a guilty parent--just to get through the day but not training ourselves to discipline for the long-term. I look forward to reading your posts--and sharing my own!

Mel Gibson: The Truth Shall Set You Free - Blog Entry

19 Jun 2009 08:05 PM

As a lifelong Catholic and parish lay minister (Master's degree in Pastoral Ministry at a Catholic university), I've never heard anything like the notion that God gives material goods in this life to those he knows won't be with him in the afterlife.

It may be that some Catholics (a few out of millions) hold that theory, but that's not the same as saying "Catholics believe" as if it were a church teaching.

In fact, we are taught that God never despairs of any of his children--as long as we live, everyone has the chance to sincerely repent and be forgiven.

I'm not sure how much God has to do with the distribution of wealth in this world, but I definitely don't think he gives it as a kind of consolation prize to the damned. God is a loving parent hoping for our growth and conversion every moment of our lives.

Court is Adjourned--for Now--in Madonna's Adoption Appeal - Blog Entry

09 May 2009 05:18 PM

I hope Malawi will develop adoption procedures like Liberia and Ethiopia have, which will allow adoption for those who truly need it. An 18 to 24-month residency period pretty much rules out international adoption without a waiver.

At the same time, I can see the judge's concern that constantly waiving the rules might allow "brokers" to traffic in children or parents desperate for a child to pressure birth relatives.

My Experiences with, "You're not my real mother!" - Blog Entry

12 Apr 2009 12:31 AM

Thank you, EmbraceLife--it's good to hear from birthmothers. This is pretty much the way I think of it--my daughter has more than one mother and father (birth, foster and now adoptive) but my husband and I are her sole parents now.

Sometimes it is hard for me to think of anyone else being my child's mother, but I think really honoring the birthmother's role as a mother also clarifies my role as the parent.

Methamphetamine Exposure in Babies - Blog Entry

04 Mar 2009 01:51 PM

Hi Kathleen and Tands,

I'll try to find more on diagnoses for kids with meth exposure.

Tands--my daughter didn't have feeding issues but when she was in the toddler early intervention program there were some kids who were extreme in either avoiding or craving tactile stimulation like touch, finger painting, water play, etc. There were also some kids who had feeding issues such as not tolerating certain types of food. There were feeding therapists on staff there, and all the kids in the program used devices that looked like bumpy toothbrushes to "stimulate their gums" before snack time.

I would definitely want to find out whether "communicate effectively" means speech and language issues only, or if they mean that he acts out when he's frustrated, grieving, angry etc. and "communicate effectively" means he needs to learn appropriate ways of handling emotions.

I would press for as much information as possible before you make a commitment. If possible, try to have the information reviewed by an independent doctor and psychologist.

Kelly Ripa vs. Clay Aiken vs. Rosie O'Donnell - Blog Entry

27 Feb 2009 01:07 PM

When I first heard that Rosie was angry about this, I assumed she thought Clay Aiken was being sexist--which I also think!

I didn't think Ripa's remark was homophobic. I do think Aiken thought he could get away with putting his hand over her mouth in part because men have been silencing women's voices for years....we all know women blab on and on too much, right?

I should note that I don't watch much TV and don't know anything about Clay Aiken, so I don't want to malign his whole character or anything. Any man or woman can make a misjudgement.

Three Mothers - Blog Entry

25 Feb 2009 12:24 AM

Thanks for sharing your insights mottoboni--I hope you enjoy the rest of the blogs here and let us hear from you again.