Thursday, July 12, 2007
Car Radio Wars
Ah, summertime is here, which means many of you will be hittin' the road with your family for that summer ritual: a roadtrip vacation. One way to keep the peace in the car is to find music that everyone can agree on. How is this possible, you ask? Zooglobble.com has reviews of all the usual kids' music suspects (e.g. Dan Zanes, They Might Be Giants, etc.) and some unexpected surprises. Anyone for Johnny Cash, The Hold Steady, or Belle and Sebastian? Seattlites will be glad to find local favorites Smoosh and Recess Monkey on there, too. And you thought parenthood meant being conscripted to listening The Wiggles, ad nauseum. Finally, your family can make peace with the car stereo.
Friday, July 6, 2007
For The Kids' Sake
Over 1 million children are waiting to be adopted in the U.S. One million! I was shocked to learn this statistic when I was working at an adoption agency in Santa Fe 7 years ago. My hunch is that the number of children waiting to be adopted only continues to grow. The reasons why so many children are waiting for families are:
1. They are over the age of 3
2. They have a sibling from whom they refuse to be separated
3. They have special developmental or physical needs
4. They are children of color
Frankly, I don't know what makes me sadder: the number of children waiting to be adopted or the reasons why they are waiting. The World Association of Children and Parents has a really great Web site for anyone who has ever had an inkling about becoming an adoptive parent. They have a photo album of children awaiting adoption, stories from parents about their adoption journeys as well as other helpful adoption resources, including financial resources for low-income families considering adoption.
I once heard Bill T. Jones say about his decidedly non-traditional-looking dance troupe, "There are lots of good bodies for dancing." I think the same can be said for parents and children. There are lots of good parents for children, and lots of good children for parents. They may not fit the traditional, idealized view of family, but they are beautiful, loving, wonderful families, nonetheless. Please help spread the word to prospective parents who would make a good home for these children.
Over 1 million children are waiting to be adopted in the U.S. One million! I was shocked to learn this statistic when I was working at an adoption agency in Santa Fe 7 years ago. My hunch is that the number of children waiting to be adopted only continues to grow. The reasons why so many children are waiting for families are:
1. They are over the age of 3
2. They have a sibling from whom they refuse to be separated
3. They have special developmental or physical needs
4. They are children of color
Frankly, I don't know what makes me sadder: the number of children waiting to be adopted or the reasons why they are waiting. The World Association of Children and Parents has a really great Web site for anyone who has ever had an inkling about becoming an adoptive parent. They have a photo album of children awaiting adoption, stories from parents about their adoption journeys as well as other helpful adoption resources, including financial resources for low-income families considering adoption.
I once heard Bill T. Jones say about his decidedly non-traditional-looking dance troupe, "There are lots of good bodies for dancing." I think the same can be said for parents and children. There are lots of good parents for children, and lots of good children for parents. They may not fit the traditional, idealized view of family, but they are beautiful, loving, wonderful families, nonetheless. Please help spread the word to prospective parents who would make a good home for these children.
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