Blended Families, Older Children Are Not In Loco Parentis

I'm the eldest of six, between two blended families. I'm the only child of my parents marriage. I always wanted siblings. Before mom re-married, she had foster kids whom I loved. At 11, I did a lot of care with the little ones, including one who was very handicapped and the baby of one foster girl who came pregnant. But when a teen boy came, that didn't go so well for me. He had to leave and I grew up pretty fast that summer.   Blended Families, Older Children Are Not In Loco Parentis

Family Glue Recipe: Balance Work, Time and Connecting

I'm not particularly talented in craftsy arts...couldn't crochet a row to save my immortal soul, wouldn't know a quilt stitch from a suture. But one domestic art that I do take pleasure and pride in is cooking. Now I'm not rabidly DIY. I love to create my own recipes. But I don't insist on honey from backyard bees or peppers I've grown from seedlings harvested from last year's crop. I'm not above using a few canned and boxed products. Here's the how and why. Family Glue Recipe: Balance Work, Time and Connecting