Tag Archives: personal experience

My Experience with Hypnotherapy

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I was at a writing retreat in March 2007 in the Quinault rainforest in Washington State. Four days of nothing but rain and writing — no cell phone service and no internet. It was heavenly! (And productive — I wrote ten thousand words on a novel over the long weekend.) One of the writers there was a licensed hypnotherapist. While we were both taking a break from writing, he offered to hypnotize me. I’d never been hypnotized before, and said so. We chatted for a few minutes about what hypnotherapy could do, and how it worked. Curious, I agreed to … Continue reading →

You Can’t Learn it All from a Book

My friends and family tease me about my voracious book-reading. Any time I develop an interest in something or hear of a new theory, philosophy, idea or whatever—I go in search of a book or article on it. Now, while reading parenting books—particularly those that relate to single parents has been an important strategy and support for me, I also acknowledge that I cannot learn everything I need to know to be a good single parent from a book… Now, don’t get me wrong—I NEED those books! Some of my best information and narratives that have helped my single parent … Continue reading →

Some Days I Wish I Was Invisible

Sometime ago a prospective adoptive parent wrote to the forums with a concern. She was considering keeping her child’s adoption secret from extended family. She mentioned that she didn’t want them to be always judging how she acted with the child, how she disciplined, whether she was doing the same thing with her adopted child as she had with her biological child. Most of the time I am out in public I react to my kids without thinking about adoption, which is as it should be. Occasionally I wonder afterward what people may be thinking. Today was one of those … Continue reading →

My Experience with Amniocentesis

I had an amniocentesis with my second baby. The test was offered to us after we got a positive result on the alpha fetoprotein blood test. The results came back showing an increased risk of Down’s Syndrome. The funny thing is that I didn’t want the blood test in the first place. When I was pregnant with my first daughter, my doctor had actually advised against the test. He told me the test had a high rate of false positives. After six years of infertility and six weeks of bed rest in early pregnancy, he felt that I didn’t need … Continue reading →

Happy Anniversary to Me!

7 years ago today, my husband and I got married in Orlando, Florida. I was at the Magic Kingdom getting my bridal photographs taken in front of Cinderella’s Castle, on her Carousel and in front of Tomorrowland. A few hours later, I was standing outside the Boardwalk resort enjoying the morning sunshine while my bridesmaids were getting their hair and make up done. We had our pictures taken together in the lobby of this beautiful hotel. My bridesmaids, maid of honor and my mother all then left in a limousine to drive over to the Yacht Club and get ready … Continue reading →

I Hate It When My Spouse ….

You can insert your own personal quibble here, but today I want to share with you a personal story about something my spouse does that I can’t stand. I hope you’ll bear with me as this is not exactly a story that does me proud. I Hate It When My Spouse is So Forgiving Now you may think that I am an idiot to complain about the idea that my spouse is so forgiving. The ability to forgive is a wonderful thing. I actually admire it as much as I can’t stand it. That I have needed his forgiveness on … Continue reading →