Heather
Heather has called the Fort Worth area home since 1995, after growing up as an Army brat and preacher's kid. She's married to her college sweetheart, Chris (Sic' Em Bears!). Their kids include Collin (1999) and his wife Elizabeth (1999), Cooper (2001), and Caris (2004). Heather is the co-founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization, The Adoptee Collective, which offers lifetime adoptee support and post adoption resources, as well as pre-adoption education. Heather is also a TBRI® Practitioner. Heather has authored and published multiple books and she finds joy in using her gifts, time, and energy toward her life goal to finish empty.
Honor Your Kids on Social Media
Listen; I’m not saying we play pretend and cover up and try to project a façade of some perfect life. I’m just saying: Remember as you post and share that this bathtub beauty will one day be a tweenager who will have opinions about how many people saw her in her birthday suit, even if the photo was strategically taken.
Calling All College Moms
I'm finding that box club is far more than a social gathering to me. It's a tangible way to mother in this new season. It's building community with other moms and showing love to our college kids who are scattered all across the country. It's the perfect combination of my love of event planning, bargain shopping, and creativity.
Surviving College Drop-Off Day
The emotions swirled while my mind raced from his birth to this day and to whatever might come next. I forced myself to remember all those days led to this one and to trust the ways that we had feathered our nest prepared him to fly on his own. I prayed prayers of surrender and took deep breaths and chose gratitude that my little boy had become a young man who was pressing toward the next chapter.
Preparing for College Drop-Off Day
I am the mom who carefully double checks the packing list for summer camp. Mentally, I found myself considering this first year like an extended summer camp, except that no packing list came with the college acceptance letter.
Preparing for Your Child’s Senior Year
In every moment when you're tempted to burst into tears or fear about the future, remind yourself that this is what you've been working toward. Then, choose to be thankful that you've done it! You've raised a tiny little babe into the awesome adult-ish person that he or she is. Soak it all in, sit in the moment, and take mental snapshots. Put the phone down and be present. Stop and tell yourself -- "Good job! LOOK at what all we've been through to get to this point," and then take a second to imagine all the good things ahead.
Let’s Quit Shaming Teenagers
Let's remember the immense pressure they are under. Let's be their biggest cheerleaders. Let's see their passion and enthusiasm and global awareness and heart for social justice. Let's hold them to a high standard and tell them in every way that we believe in them.
Surviving Prom in a Prom-Posal World
With careful consideration, my husband and I worked with the other parents to craft a prom weekend on a budget we set that afforded our kids a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We caved in some areas and drew firm lines in others. But the in the end, we did it our way and have no regrets.