Defying the Odds

There are always exceptions to any rule. Statistics can give a general pattern of society’s trends but there are always those that defy the odds and do not fit the general pattern. As I read Mary Ann’s article, I was saddened to read the sad state of marriage in America. Sadly, it’s no different in Australia. When our daughter was at school she was one of few who had parents who were together and had only ever been married to each other. As Mary Ann’s blog mentioned most families had step parents, step sisters, stepbrothers. Listening to many of the … Continue reading

Marie Osmond—Her Lips are Flapping But is Anything Coming Out?

Here we go again… Apparently, there are very few stars in Hollywood who understand that there are benefits to remaining mum on certain topics. No, discretion is not a celebrity strong point and Marie Osmond is a perfect example. The former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant has decided the world would be a better place if we all knew how she felt about the Miley Cyrus Vanity Fair picture brouhaha. Yesterday, Osmond went public blaming Miley’s dad, Billy Ray Cyrus for leaving his 15-year-old daughter alone during the photo shoot (F.Y.I. Miley’s grandmother and teacher remained with the teen when … Continue reading

Tristi’s Favorite Musicals

I grew up watching musicals. I love Doris Day, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire – in fact, there are very few movie stars from Hollywood’s golden era that I don’t like. There’s just nothing like a man and woman gazing into each other’s eyes and then breaking into song. Some of my all-time favorite musicals are, in no particular order: “Oklahoma!” Who could forget Shirley Jones in her first role as shy and idealistic Laurie, caught up in her feelings for that rascally cowboy, Curly? “Show Boat” took on a tough topic – that of race discrimination – and brought us … Continue reading

I Survived the First Grade Today

Well, I did it. In spite of how often I talk about adoption, I was nervous about going to Meg’s first-grade classroom, where her classmates had been pressing her about whether she was adopted and who her “real” mom was. (I talked about this in a recent blog.) I’ve done presentations on Korean heritage in the past, sometimes including adoption and sometimes sticking strictly to describing the holiday or customs, (You can read my blog about these presentations by clicking here.) I learned that it’s not easy to decide what’s right for your child, no matter how well-informed you may … Continue reading

I Don’t Do Slides (An Embarrassing Motherhood Moment)

Oh, the delights of motherhood. Like most parents, for me a trip to the playground means sitting on a bench, observing my kids from a safe distance. I have learned that venturing onto the equipment, for adults, is risky business. Not only is one’s personal safety threatened, but one’s personal dignity might go right down the… slide. It was nearly a decade ago and I still remember it. On a bright sunny Saturday in California, my kids wanted to go to the park. I indulged them. It was an older park with metal equipment and bolts, but its location made … Continue reading