Tag Archives: foster parenting

Understanding what drives the calling of God

Posted on 24 October 2017 by maradanto

So, as you may have noticed, I’ve been thinking a lot about Lumpy the past few weeks, and processing some of the grief and other experiences of having and losing him back in 2002. A lot of this stems from … Continue reading →

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The never-ending game of peek-a-boo

Posted on 24 October 2017 by maradanto

I’m from Pittsburgh area. My parents still live there. It’s about 300 miles to get there, or roughly six hours, given the occasional pit stop. A little less than 16 years ago, we took Oldest Daughter and her foster brother … Continue reading →

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What power lies in the name ‘daddy’

Posted on 23 October 2017 by maradanto

I still remember the first time he called me daddy. It was a couple months after the state had returned him to his birth parents. His mother had decided that she didn’t want to be a mother after all, and … Continue reading →

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The gains we made

Posted on 3 October 2017 by maradanto

About 16 years ago, we had a foster son who arrived at our house almost 2 years old who was sadly delayed in gross and fine motor skills. While our own daughter was holding crayons and moving them in back-and-forth … Continue reading →

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A helmet that covers a multitude

Posted on 3 October 2017 by maradanto

One of the things I like about my church is that it’s deeply committed to adoption and foster care. Your worship can be too loud and have all the euphonious qualities of a garbage truck at three in the morning, … Continue reading →

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The loss of a child

Posted on 3 October 2017 by maradanto

It’s funny the things we do to cope. It was around this time of year that the state returned Lumpy to his birth parents. His caseworker’s assessment was that his parents hadn’t improved a damn bit, but as she said, … Continue reading →

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What to expect if you become a foster parent

Posted on 18 June 2017 by maradanto

A friend of mine recently shared an article on foster parenting titled, “Foster care and what I feared most for my own kids.” It obviously meant something to her, and other readers expressed their appreciation to her for sharing it. … Continue reading →

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Lumpy

Posted on 15 May 2017 by maradanto

About 15 years ago, we visited a new church in the West Windsor area with our foster son in tow. “What’s your son’s name?” someone asked. “Lumpy,” I said. Once the laughter had subsided, I admitted “That’s not his real … Continue reading →

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forgiveness is a struggle

Posted on 4 July 2016 by maradanto

I’ve been having a hard time with forgiveness lately. I’m sorry, did I say lately? It’s been a problem for years. More than a decade, even. Fourteen-and-a-half years ago, my wife and I opened our home to a foster child. … Continue reading →

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grief

Posted on 30 September 2008 by maradanto

Grief fills the room up of my absent child,Lies in his bed, walks up and down with me,Puts on his pretty looks, repeats his words,Remembers me of all his gracious parts,Stuffs out his vacant garments with his form;Then, have I … Continue reading →

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