Search Results for: blog an open letter to my new neighbors

New Neighbors and Their Outdoor Pets

Three new families have moved into my neighborhood during the last month. All have pets. (Woohoo! More pet people!) However, two of the households have outdoor pets. Aimee’s not the only one who takes exception to her neighbors from time to time. Occasionally, so do I. Most recently Aimee had to contend with neighbors not disposing of their trash (namely chicken bones) in the proper place. Frustrating. I can feel her pain. One of our new neighbors’ animals is leaving some litter behind I’d rather he dispose of elsewhere, too…. The Outdoor Cat Apparently he’s made friends with his next … Continue reading →

An Open Letter to My New Neighbors

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Dear Neighbors: welcome to the complex. From the looks of your license plates, you’ve made a huge cross-country journey. I know the feeling. Welcome to your cute dog, too. I only caught a glimpse of him or her as I was walking my dogs, but hey, I like all dogs and lots of cats, too. I did, however, notice that you tethered your dog outside without supervision. Aside from it being against the pet agreement in the lease you signed, I think this is a bad idea. Here’s why: Your back patio faces the community playground. There are lots of … Continue reading →

A Single Parent Needs Trustworthy Neighbors

Many people have lamented and written on the changing of American neighborhoods. It can be hard to find friendly neighbors and a feeling of community that many of us remember from our youth. As single parents, I think we really need to have neighbors we can trust and those we can turn to when we need a hand, or just need to feel safe and supported in our neighborhoods. Even if you manage to get just one trustworthy neighbor as part of your “support team” it can make a huge difference. A great neighbor can provide our kids with a … Continue reading →

What Would You Like to See in the Adoption Blog This Next Year?

What Would You Like to See in the Adoption Blog This Next Year? This blog will be a little different. I’m asking for comments from you, my readers. What has been helpful to you in the adoption blog this year? What would you like to see more of? More personal experience and reflections? More informational blogs? I, for one, would like to see more comments by readers, both in the blog comments and in the forums. The forums are a great tool to ask questions which I can then address in blogs. As many of you know, I have two … Continue reading →

Do You Know Your Leash Laws?

Quick — do you know the leash laws in your neighborhood or town? If you live in an apartment complex, do you know their pet rules? More importantly… do you obey the leash laws of your community? It’s a problem I’ve run into WAY too often in my apartment complex. I have at least two neighbors who just open their doors and let their dogs out to run around the parking lot unsupervised. There are so many things wrong with this — the dog could get hit by a car in the parking lot, the dog could get stolen, the … Continue reading →

How Not to Walk Your Dogs

I live in a very pet-friendly apartment complex. That’s great — otherwise, I wouldn’t have a place where my dogs Moose and Lally are welcome. The complex welcomes dogs of all sizes… I’ve got a St. Bernard living to the right, a lanky hound of some kind across the way, and a ton of other four-legged neighbors. It’s not the dogs I’m worried about so much as the owners. I’ve had a few run-ins with a couple that owns a pair of sleek little brown dachshunds. Every time the dogs see us, they start lunging and barking. The owners will … Continue reading →

Extended Family’s Attitudes about Skin Color

I know a couple of adoptive families who were interested in adopting from Korea, but said their extended families wouldn’t fully accept a child of color and that wouldn’t be fair to the child. One friend’s father had been a POW in the Korean War and held negative views ever after. Our own families were very supportive of our adopting from Korea. Nonetheless I’ve observed a couple of instances where they are uncomfortable talking about skin color. In another blog I described how my Korean-born daughter always chose the darker chair for herself and the lighter one for her brother, … Continue reading →

Ladies & Gentlemen, Welcome to the 11th Month of the Year!

Can it really be November 1st already? That’s the part about the mad dash towards Halloween that always seems startling, the very next morning it’s November 1st and in my family, that means heading in towards the holidays. What lists we may have compiled, what gifts we may have already purchased or picked up and what plans we may have already made go under the microscope as we get ready for the last eight to nine weeks of the year. In three short weeks, it will be the week of Thanksgiving and on the very last day of the month, … Continue reading →

Things Adoptive Parents Can Do To Claim Their Child.

I have written several blogs about the issue of parent’s claiming their adoptive child and now it is time for some practical tips and things parents can do to make claiming happen: 1- Dress up and have a new family photo taken. Place it on a wall where everyone can see it. 2- Put some snapshots of your child in your wallet and show them to friends and family. 3- Send out Adoption Announcements or have a “Kid Shower” >4- Have an announcement published in the newspaper, your company newsletter, and Church bulletin. 5- Have a Church dedication. 6- Host … Continue reading →