Two Collages about Climate

It’s 2 degrees in Minneapolis tonight, the windchill ratcheting us down to minus ten. There are mountains of snow on every street corner, and driving a across an intersection is…
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A New Essay in Under the Sun

I have a new essay in Under the Sun about losing my first child to adoption. A writing accident I never meant to write about any of this. For decades…
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A Birthmother on Mother’s Day

One dozen ways to be with a birthmother on Mother’s Day Here’s the thing. It’s not easy to be a birthmother on Mother’s Day. Try this. Google birthmother. The search…
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A Girl in Mississippi

In my heart I am a girl in Mississippi in my heart. In my churning stomach I am a girl in Mississippi. I am a girl in Mississippi even though,…
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Adopt a Ukrainian Baby

Actually, you can’t adopt a Ukrainian baby. Here’s why The nation’s Ministry of Social Policy has declared a moratorium on adoptions because of the war. They clearly state that “under…
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Birthmothers and Witches

Scotland’s Witches King James VI of Scotland and subsequent rulers vilified people believed to be witches with great fervor during the 16th and 18th centuries. They tortured and executed over…
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Ireland’s Last Magdalene Laundry

A Magdalene laundry memorial According to the New York Times, a new memorial will be developed in the last remaining “Magdalene laundry” in Dublin. The compound with its convent and…
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Keeping Adoption Secret

  A story about a secret This story about keeping adoption secret was first published a decade ago. The advice columnist Amy Dickinson chose to re-publish it a few days…
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Adoption’s Legacy of Harm

Witnessing the evidence of harm It’s been years since I’ve spent a Saturday morning in a room, passing around a box of kleenex while listening to birth parents and adoptees…
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Surrogate Motherhood in Ukraine

Ukraine is a leader in surrogacy Surrogate motherhood is a big thing in Ukraine. I didn’t know about this thriving business until the war. Now I can’t stop thinking about…
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How to Adopt from Ukraine

How, exactly, do you adopt a baby from Ukraine during a war? By any means necessary. What is necessary? I will tell you what I learned from a story I…
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New Flash Fiction

“How It Is” published in Flash Fiction Magazine! This story is a flash fiction piece. This one is not about adoption. You can find links to more of my short…
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