Personal

A Potted Plant in the Forest

At the age of six I stood behind velvet curtains dreaming of another world. As…

The Mother I Never Knew

I grew up knowing I was adopted. I found out at a very young age.…

Why Secrets Hurt

I love surprises.  I love when a friend comes to visit me with flowers or…

Get Chummy with Strangers

I am an African-American woman in my mid 50’s, who, in all aspects of my…

Moments ?

Grief. A process I can’t describe but here, for you, I’ll try. There’s a layer…

“Don’t Take My Monuments!” Coping with America’s Identity Crisis

On Saturday, Dallas police officers responded to reports on social media about a possible white…

I Was Robbed and You Could Be Next

As a child of poverty and a nonprofit professional advocating for economic opportunity and financial…

Beyond Our Dreams

If someone had told me ten years ago that I would one day be living…

The Price of Success

Young children are told to work hard academically, and success will naturally come to you.  A…

Post-Traumatic Growth

For about 19 years, I had a home. Not a dream-worthy one, but a stable…

Expanding Our Family

For about 11 months, I had my family – the one I’d always dreamed of,…

“How Can You Be Adopted and Hate Adoption?”

“Having a baby and can’t take care of it? Don’t worry! Put your baby up…

Menopausal in my 30s: Welcoming the Transition

My last menstrual period started one day after my first chemo. I wish I could…

Caption This

I read an article once encouraging mothers “…to get in the picture…” with their kids…

Lost and Found: The Heritage of Adoption

As summer approaches, I’m reminded of the informational brochure for Korean heritage camp my parents…