Finding Ninee » Sharing our parenting and special needs stories with heart and humor.

I found a boy behind a dumpster. He was drunk, floppy and adorable. He looked like a stuffed animal sitting there alone.  I went to him. I’d always wanted to know what it felt like to have a boy inside of me and thought that because we’d danced and kissed earlier, that maybe this was my […]

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by Kristi Campbell

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  • Dana - The whole thing makes me sick. The only positive thing to come from this is the opportunity to discuss it with our kids, and each other.June 7, 2016 – 7:27 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - The whole thing makes me sick too. I’m actually sort of shocked I published this but the victim’s statement to the court was heart wrenching.June 7, 2016 – 9:23 amReplyCancel

  • Kenya G. Johnson - Woooo, that was hard to read over coffee & an English muffin. So many things to talk to our kids about….June 7, 2016 – 8:56 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Kenya, I should have warned you and told you to read one of the last two posts instead.June 7, 2016 – 9:24 amReplyCancel

  • Emily - I thought this post was brilliant. I constantly talk to my boys about respecting women and girls and I pray the message is ingrained in their heads because I so agree – this must stop.June 7, 2016 – 9:17 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Thanks Emily. I’m a little bit shocked I actually published this.June 7, 2016 – 9:24 amReplyCancel

      • Emily - I think it’s great that you did…sometimes we need to write about the things that matter, even if those topics don’t “fit” into our regular blogs or posts.June 7, 2016 – 9:27 amReplyCancel

        • Kristi Campbell - Thanks, Emily. You’re right. We do need to write about what matters, even when it’s hard… thanks for the support and the reminder. <3June 7, 2016 – 9:44 amReplyCancel

  • Lisa @ The Meaning of Me - Wow, Kristi. You have a set, woman. I’m pretty sure I was doing what you were doing last night at about the same time – reading all of this crap and just sitting here, mouth hanging open, thinking “what the hell is wrong with people?” It made me physically ill, really, and I had to turn off the computer and go to bed.
    I pray every day that when the time comes, my daughter finds herself in the company of men who were taught the things you talk about here. I pray that she makes choices that won’t put her in a place where she can’t say yes or no – think about the impulsivity factor of ADHD and the terror this parent has about the future where that is concerned. Why? Because been there done that. Maybe once again me having what she has is such a very good thing.
    I have some thoughts on this and I wasn’t going to hit publish on them, but I just might after seeing that you did. You inspire me more often than you know, my friend.June 7, 2016 – 9:47 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Aw thank you thank you thank you Lisa! It made me physically ill too which I guess is why I wrote this even though it’s not something I usually would publish here. But if not here, where? I hope you end up publishing your thoughts – I just read that there’s a petition to have the judge removed from the bench for this so it’s not just you and I who are outraged and disgusted. I know what you mean about your girl – I worry about the same for Tucker which is I guess what made me think about the whole thing from the other perspective. xoxoJune 7, 2016 – 10:08 amReplyCancel

  • Jena - I’m glad you’re Tucker’s mama.June 7, 2016 – 9:48 amReplyCancel

  • Julie - You captured the feel of entitlement really well with the twist of it being the girl who won’t have her future ruined because of action at a party. Bravo.June 7, 2016 – 10:23 amReplyCancel

  • Don - This is brilliant, my friend!

    The whole case is sad, but people need to wake up to what’s going on, especially on college campuses. I can’t even imagine the number of young women who NEVER say anything because they’re embarrassed or fear they will be humiliated by coming forward. The problem is that they’re right! They will be.

    It takes a really strong woman to go through with what this woman has. I really applaud her and wish I could give her a “great job” hug. I’d give you one too.June 7, 2016 – 10:43 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Aw shucks. I know women who have never said anything and you’re right they might be humiliated if they do and that SUCKS. Thanks for giving me a hug too.June 7, 2016 – 4:58 pmReplyCancel

  • Sara - Right on, Kristi. It sickens me too. I read her statement Sunday morning and it changed the tenor of the day. And then the father’s statement? Ugh. It makes me so angry. It’s not just about teaching no means no (which is a good thing to teach), but also that yes means yes. Ask for consent. Before every step, ask for consent.

    Hugs and write on!June 7, 2016 – 10:45 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I didn’t read her statement until I was putting Tucker to bed last night waiting for him to fall asleep and felt like the floor dropped out. And yes, ask for consent. Good good point and hugs back.June 7, 2016 – 5:03 pmReplyCancel

  • Nicki - Bravo, bravo Kristi!
    Thank you for your brave response to this horrific story. So so grateful to you and proud to call you my friend xoxoJune 7, 2016 – 11:41 amReplyCancel

  • Christine Carter - WHOA. Another powerful perspective on this horrific case. Kristi Rieger Campbell, this was as hard to read as many of the posts out there- but necessary. SO necessary.

    (I tried to post this to fb but it wouldn’t let me..?)June 7, 2016 – 11:42 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Thank you Chris. I don’t know why it wouldn’t let you post it on FB. Maybe if you share from where I posted it? And thank you for wanting to post it on FB!!! I appreciate that!June 7, 2016 – 5:05 pmReplyCancel

  • Layne - My daughter, never having spoken in the backseat of the car did one day. Many have found hope seeing the story. Feel free to share as you think.


    June 8, 2016 – 10:34 amReplyCancel

  • Tamara - What can I even say, other than MAKE IT STOP?
    And don’t ever MAKE IT STOP – now I’m talking about your writing.June 8, 2016 – 11:34 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Thanks, you… I know. Make it stop. For all of us. Sons, daughters, humans. xoJune 8, 2016 – 8:51 pmReplyCancel

  • Kerry - Wow Kristi. This was a take on the subject that I definitely wasn’t expecting, but well done for making your point and making us all think.
    I am speechless on this story. That shouldn’t happen, as a writer, but it has.
    🙁
    Actually, that’s not really true. I want to say something and then I think, meh, what’s the point. I feel blocked by my outrage. I feel trapped and drowning by frustration and in our environment of selfishness and arrogance. So many are so so kind and want to do the right thing, but then there are those (like the punk in this case) who feel so utterly entitled that they hurt people and can’t even see it.
    After all, if a man who is this close to becoming President refuses to take any accountability, why would some privileged, college athlete take any?
    I am just glad, if I can’t manage to put my messed up thoughts down in any sort of coherent manner, there are pieces of writing like this, like yours.June 10, 2016 – 9:28 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Kerry,
      THANK YOU. I saw your comment while I was at a blogging conference and stepped to a private place to read yours and reply but then got sidetracked. This story disgusts me on so many levels. I understand feeling blocked by your outrage. I think many do and the ONLY reason I wrote about it was I was laying in bed next to Tucker while his breathing deepened, and I thought about how vulnerable HE is, and about this girl.. and it just came. Was a 10 minute rant post and yes, ugh you’re so right. Also you put your thoughts down really well.June 12, 2016 – 8:58 pmReplyCancel

  • My Inner Chick - Wonderfully written.
    No. More. Excuses.
    …for the abusers, murderers, & rapists.
    No. More.
    No F*ing More.

    xxxJune 13, 2016 – 7:54 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - NO MORE. You’re doing it. You’re educating. Helping. NO MORE. Love. Love wins.June 14, 2016 – 11:03 pmReplyCancel

  • yvonne Spence - Sorry that it’s taken me forever to comment on this post. I read it (as you know cos I tweeted it and added my link) and then I’ve had to deal with some family issues and other stuff, so didn’t get round to commenting.

    It is, as everyone has already said, such an impactful post. Turning it around this way does make the point so strongly.

    I absolutely agree with you that there needs to be a mindset change in people like Brock Turner, and I think what you say about educating boys is so important. I’m sure you will make a wonderful job of guiding Tucker to be sensitive and aware.June 14, 2016 – 5:51 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Yvonne, please never feel the need to apologize for the time it takes. I was at a Blog conference this weekend and have been focusing on IRL since the horrid news.. I think turning it around helps fuel the argument of how ridiculous his defense was. Because it was ridiculous. Here’s to educating boys… and the saddest part is that I’m years and years away from my boy even beginning to understand this type of lesson. He’s inviting his entire class to his birthday party because “he wants to make them happy.”June 14, 2016 – 11:06 pmReplyCancel

      • Yvonne - Kristi, it sounds to me that Tucker doesn’t need any lessons in respecting others and kindness. We could all learn from him instead. <3June 15, 2016 – 5:56 pmReplyCancel

  • Allie - I felt physically ill reading this. I was away when this news broke and hadn’t heard all the details. Where the hell is the Justice? What a sad, sad world.June 15, 2016 – 8:24 amReplyCancel

  • Eli@CoachDaddy - Incredible, Kristi. This shouldn’t sound any more absurd than the news story, and yet …

    I focus on the behavior not only of the boy, but of the boy’s dad. What in the world? That’s where the problem lies. Men and boys who see things this way. I still see it in my contemporaries, men that see things in such a twisted way that I don’t want to share a gender with them, or rather have a sub-gender.

    And the boys who found them, and chased this boy down. Those are the men we need more of. I wish they’d gotten there earlier, as a dad of three girls, yes, and also just a man in this world. The first boy should have helped her home. End of story.June 15, 2016 – 1:41 pmReplyCancel

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Somehow, I continually manage to be surprised and relieved when I realize it’s Friday night. “Surely I’ll have time to write about what I’ve been thankful for this week. It’s only Friday!” And each Friday night, I look at the clock and it’s 9:00pm on Sunday. “Oh right, we had baseball and swimming and life and building armor […]

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by Kristi Campbell

Whatcha think, peeps?
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  • Louise - So wonderful that you got to meet blog friends in real life! And three cheers for Tucker and all that he’s doing now – that’s really wonderful.

    As for beating yourself up about blog posting – meh. This was perfect once you got to it and sometimes Netflix SHOULD win.June 5, 2016 – 12:58 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Aw thanks Louise. You’re right. Sometimes, Netflix SHOULD win. I hear him calling again though and gah.June 5, 2016 – 10:38 pmReplyCancel

  • JT Walters - You do have a lot to be happy about. I know the middle land is hard but you are out of autism and I’d give anything to just hear my son talk. He is not improving. I am thrilled for you and Tucker.

    Btw, I drink a Kale juice every morning. It is very good for you!! You should give it a try!!June 5, 2016 – 2:16 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Well I wouldn’t say “out of autism” more that it’s not classic autism on the CARS test. So still in the middle. And I know about Alex, and am so so sorry he’s not improving but he’s also learning and improving all the time right? He knows all the bones and you’re such a great mom to him. And yeah, I actually (since my teeth) have had smoothies of superfoods that were Kale, celery, ginger, mango and pineapple and it was super delicious.June 5, 2016 – 10:58 pmReplyCancel

      • JT Walters - Well not out of “autism” but reason for optimism. Tucker is a cool dude and he is doing more and more typical childhood things. Like I said the middle is hard. Alex is learning but he also is a teenager with autism which a book should be written about it.

        So sorry to hear about you getting ill. As Mom’s we are so busy taking care of everyone else we forget to take care of ourselves.

        Lighting (That’s the name of the guinea pig, right?) now had to compete for his Kale in the morning.

        I do Kale, OJ, fresh giner, vanilla, 1 banana 1/2 cup cashews and 1/2 cup flax seed. Everyday as it is a great probiotic antioxidant way to start your day. I have been known to freeze a day in advance too.

        At three he was classic autism but through the power of motherly love he is getting better. I wish I had your super powers!!!

        Alex is more mature now. He sees the world through adult eyes and yes he loves medicine and understands it which is even more incredible.

        As long as you are on the mend…awesome post and yes, somedays Alex surprises me with what he understands about the world. He had been an observer of human behavior for 16 years. He understands people better than I do.

        You are such a beautiful person Kristi you would say those drinks are super delicious even if they were terrible. I do frozen fruit with Kiefer, whey protein and vanilla with a touch of honey from the groves. It is awesome before bed.June 5, 2016 – 11:18 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - Oh I just love hearing all that good stuff about Tucker – baseball and board kicking…so so so great! We’ve had expectations exceeded too bc I think sometimes we are too afraid to dream otherwise OR in other cases, we had “experts” tell us certain generalizations (like, kids on the spectrum do better at individual sports) so then we start to believe them. How I wish I could let those “experts” know now that my kid will likely play college basketball.:) And yeah, can totally relate to the middle world and how hard that can be. It gets better as the kids get older, because older kids are more understanding of differences and aren’t as quick to judge. And, if we keep working on that land of empathy, let’s hope the understanding filters down to younger and younger ages (but it also needs to filter up too bc well, you know there are still some older people who just don’t get it still…)June 5, 2016 – 6:56 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - thank you huge, Emily!! I think you’re right about wanting all of it and dreaming of it but wanting to be realistic and not put unfair pressures on our kids… also the stupid “experts.” sigh.
      I LOVE so much that your kid is likely going to play college Basketball!!! I need to get back to Our Land. But energy and maybe a book would be better and and and, well, yeah. I so love your comment. And you.June 5, 2016 – 11:00 pmReplyCancel

  • Tamara - You got to meet Allie! So awesome. And how could he not love Audrey?
    I’d be so proud of him too. A big deal.June 5, 2016 – 9:25 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Thanks, SW. I got to meet her a couple of years ago but yeah, she’s wonderful. I got to meet you a couple of years ago too and you. Are wonderful.June 5, 2016 – 11:00 pmReplyCancel

  • christine - IT WAS COMPLETELY AWESOME TO MEET YOU AND TUCKER!! The time went way, waaaaay too fast. So funny that you mention my laugh. It’s always the thing people talk about. 🙂 That feet in the fountain thing was the perfect way to spend part of our afternoon.

    Tucker is awesome. I hate that he has some trouble with kids, but I’m thrilled that he is doing so well with Tae kwon do and baseball. I cannot wait to hear about parkour class!June 5, 2016 – 9:33 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Ok I guess WP didn’t like my comment back because I tried to include a Parkour video but it was SO nice to meet you and Phoenix aka M… Of course people talk about your laugh – it’s like waterfalls and tinkling bells. So glad it worked out for us to hang out together. And yeah, I hate he has trouble too but here’s to parkour!!!June 5, 2016 – 11:09 pmReplyCancel

  • Lisa @ The Meaning of Me - I am SO jealous of all the bloggy people I know meeting other bloggy people I know and NONE OF THEM ARE ME! 😀 Ugh!
    I can’t tell you how much I love this post because I know you know that I totally get it. Totally. Zilla played with cousins and friends of cousins at a party today – that was remarkable. There have been so many remarkable moments this year. How awesome are these kids?
    Board breaking – who knew, right? I can’t believe my kid does that and I can’t believe I don’t jump out of my seat when she does. I’m usually so nervous, but I have to let her do this. And you know what? She’s got this. She’s got so much of this. Her favorite thing, though, is her nunchakus. 😀
    Ha – that Facebook thing was funny. What the hell was he talking about? Clark-speak? 😀June 5, 2016 – 10:37 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - well can we meet this summer? Say yes. I know you totally get it, yes. I so very much want Tucker and Zilla to hang out. They will have huge big fun. These kids are AWESOME. And omg I can’t believe we have kids breaking boards in common too although now I realize I knew that and had forgotten so so cool. Also T won nunchucks or however you spell it and he was like “when they’re on the ground, they’re in this position, and when you hold them…” I was like WAIT WHAT but I guess they learned some stuff about them at TKD camp and he loves his too. Even though that freaks me out.
      Also yeah, Clark speak. lol.June 5, 2016 – 11:12 pmReplyCancel

    • Lisa @ The Meaning of Me - Let’s make getting together happen this summer, yes! Things are much better for us in that regard than last year. (And HOW is it a year already that’s gone by?)Let’s talk about when and how and where and all of that.
      Yeah, Zilla wielding weapons is a little disconcerting, but she really seems to know what she’s doing. I think it’s in her blood. 😉June 6, 2016 – 8:17 amReplyCancel

  • Vanessa D. - So awesome to see your guy loving these activities! I love the Tae Kwon Do action series.June 5, 2016 – 11:33 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Thanks Vanessa. It’s been such fun watching him figure out what activities he likes and doesn’t like.June 6, 2016 – 10:55 amReplyCancel

  • Kerry - Wow, with the Tae Kwon Do”s and the baseball too.
    🙂
    Living other people’s lives…I love to do that, if only to get a small break from living my own sometimes.
    🙂
    Glad to see you here this week.June 6, 2016 – 2:03 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - It’s easy to get sucked into living other people’s lives – a welcome break sometimes. But sometimes, I take it too far with the “one more episode” thing.June 6, 2016 – 10:57 amReplyCancel

  • Kenya G. Johnson - LOL I swear one of my cheeks has been bigger than the other for a month because my gums aren’t agreeing with my temporary crown. I get the real crown on Thursday and I can’t EVER think of a time I have been so excited to go to the dentist. That tooth has been talking to me at 1am like your Netflix.

    Love the pics of Tucker kicking the boards. That’s awesome that he exceeded expectations.

    I’m going to have to google parkour. Sweet that you met Allie and Christine!June 7, 2016 – 9:11 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - UGH the crowns!! The temporary crowns!!! I’m so glad you get the real one on Thursday and UGH to that tooth talking like my 1am Netflix. Oh the parkour. I bet Christopher knows what it is. I had no idea…
      And ah hem… I could meet YOU ya know. Have any trips planned near here this summer???June 7, 2016 – 9:48 pmReplyCancel

  • Karen Loren - It’s such a relief to know that I’m not alone in my difficulties with my 6-yr old son. He has been tentatively diagnosed with Social-Communication Disorder (I think it’s one of those things under the huge umbrella of autism). Thank you for sharing your stories, my son started with first grade this year and so far he has been on the same level with the other kids in terms of academics, activities, etc… His conversational skill though is currently the level of a 4-yr old, so I guess it’s not too far off from his current age. He’s in between worlds too, I totally get what you mean when you said that. And my son also went through the whole Taekwondo thing for about a year last year and it was awesome. Hope to read more of your stories about your journey in conquering your son’s development!June 9, 2016 – 5:11 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Karen thank you thank you for taking the time to comment. I so very appreciate when like mamas let me know that I’m not alone (and that you aren’t either). I promise you’re not alone. My son is going to do All The Tests this fall (EEEP_ scary but also I’m looking forward to them) for what he “actually” has. When he was three I thought “no it’s not autism,” but then Preschool Autism Class helped him so much and he had so much in common with his classmates… Then when he was five, I freaked out and he thrived… but then he was bullied and told me his mouth is broken…. ugh. Sounds like we’re living very similar situations.June 12, 2016 – 11:18 pmReplyCancel

  • Allie - Can you believe that I am only just now seeing this?!?!?!?!?!? I’m so sorry. I check out well on vacay and I’m been scrambling at work, ever since I’ve been back. Please tell Tucker that I am super-proud of him – and that Audrey is too:)! Our visit was way too short, but I know that we will meet again!June 16, 2016 – 9:39 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I can believe you’re now only seeing this. I check out well in RL always and am just reading Summer Sisters thinking about your books of life. I think Tucker loves Aud in a good way but maybe um, more than. And we will.June 16, 2016 – 10:37 pmReplyCancel

  • Robin Digrigoli - Earlier I happened to run across your speech about being a special needs mom. The post had made you the voice of us. Many agreed with you. I, on the other hand, did not. You used words like….mourn and jealousy. If only you could have seen all the great things your son would end up doing….maybe then you wouldn’t have felt so bad about him. You wouldn’t have had to “mourn the son you could have had” or be jealous of the “normal” kids wishing you had one too. I’m curious as to what your thoughts are now. Do you feel differently?June 25, 2016 – 9:25 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Hi Robin,
      Thank you for your comment. Did you watch the whole speech? Because the end message was supposed to be that life IS very beautiful with the children we have, no matter what. I cherish my son, exactly as he is. There was a time when I felt sad for the things I’d imagined doing with him that I knew I wouldn’t be but yes – life is beautiful and he’s perfect as he is. Feel free to email me if you’d like to chat.June 25, 2016 – 7:26 pmReplyCancel

  • Robin - I would like to say that I’m not judging you for your feelings. I think it seems that way but I’m not. The part I’m having a problem with is that your feelings have been chosen to represent all of us. I don’t feel anything like the way you did. I dont know what health issues your son has but from where I can see he seems like he is doing everything little boys do. He seems happy and he carries himself well…I can imagine thinking you somehow missed out on anything. But what do I know. I can only hope my kids never see your speech. I hope they never fear I felt the same. That’s really my only concern.June 26, 2016 – 3:25 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Hi again Robin,
      Thank you for the clarification. When it comes to my speech…I had no idea that it would be so widely spread. I wrote it one night as a blog post after having a play-date that went very wrong.

      Later, when I found out about the Listen to Your Mother Show, I auditioned with it, was accepted, and then read it to a small audience. Had I known that it’d be so widely shared, I probably would have made some changes to it. That’s one of the funny and frustrating things about writing and blogging, I think. We never really know what people will most relate to and share.

      While a lot of large websites shared it, I know that other people agree with you and honestly, I don’t overall think that I’m missing out on anything. I have my beautiful son and I love him exactly as he is. At the end of the speech, I tried to convey that with “it’s going to be just fine…”

      However, I’ll keep your perspective in mind for sure and thank you for taking the time to share it. I do appreciate it.July 14, 2016 – 11:05 amReplyCancel

Each night, a girl dreams of being back home in the kingdom. She can’t quite picture the faces around the late evening feast but it’s large and loud. Viking hats litter the table next to their owner’s plates. She’d never been here before, but had somehow, and knew that it’d be disrespectful of the men […]

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by Kristi Campbell

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  • JT Walters - Beautiful metaphor of the tree and so true of our existence. The tree of life…we have past, present and branch out into the future. We choose those branches as you so eloquently put. Our branches can be full of love and acceptance or our branches can be narrow and unaccepting. In life all these trees exist. It is natural.

    The hardest part is deciding what kind of tree you wish to be.

    You my friend are a beautiful strong oak with wide strong branches that are open, loving and accepting. You make the world a more beautiful place with each blog.

    Thank you, Kristi!June 2, 2016 – 10:46 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Wow to the idea of all these trees exist. So very true and YOU are a beautiful strong oak with a knot on one of your branches that I’m so glad you’re taking care of to grow stronger and more rooted. Here’s to sun and shade, friend.June 3, 2016 – 7:22 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - Roots can be a tricky subject, right? I know what you mean – on the one hand, it’s interesting to learn about our past and our roots, but on the other hand, sometimes it might be better to focus on the future more. Our personal history can help us understand ourselves more in certain contexts (for ex, my mother used to reuse the same paper towel over and over again until she couldn’t reuse it anymore. It kind of drove me mad, but she always said that behavior was driven by the fact that she was brought up during the depression), but in other contexts maybe it’s better not to know too much, right? I don’t know, maybe I’m overthinking it??June 2, 2016 – 10:51 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Emily, the Depression behavior is huge – my Grandma used to wash out ziplock bags which drove me crazy although now, I’m like “huh, they are kinda a waste” but more from a landfill standpoint. I guess each decade gives us new knowledge of roots and pasts… and no I think you’re just right thinking it. Sometimes, it’s truly better to not know, I think.June 3, 2016 – 7:24 pmReplyCancel

  • Marcia @Menopausalmom - Your writing skills never cease to amaze me. This is exceptional. And it resonates with my family because my husband is adopted—as was his biological mother, who took the secret of his father’s identity to the grave with her 10 years ago. My hubs always says his side of the family tree has root rot…..June 3, 2016 – 12:33 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Oh Marcia, that is SO nice, thank you huge. Wow to your husband’s bio mom taking his father’s ID to the grave. I did meet my bio mom and sister but the father refused to meet me. LOL to root rot. Sadly though, it’s so often the case, in many families with adoptions and without. xoJune 3, 2016 – 7:29 pmReplyCancel

  • Allie - After seeing you and specifically talking about adoption, I am amazed at how you can spin all these feelings into such a beautiful and introspective post. You are amazing Ms. Campbell, and Tucker is extremely lucky to have such strong and interesting roots for his foundation. He will grow big and tall!June 3, 2016 – 9:22 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Allie! I think our talk was brewing in my brain because when I sat to write this last night, it just made sense. OH and I thought of the sentence prompt right after seeing you so BOOM thank you!! Also YOU are amazing. He will grow big and tall. Maybe, he’ll get to marry Audrey because STILL TALKING ABOUT HER. <3June 3, 2016 – 8:36 pmReplyCancel

  • Tamara - I’m not adopted, but I still don’t really understand my biological roots. I’m learning Cassidy’s even more so, because there’s a bit more clarity there, and we have two kids together. Fascinates the heck out of me.

    And oh! That poor cow without a heart.June 3, 2016 – 5:17 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I know yours are complicated too Tamara! Fascinates me too. And yeah, poor cow without a heart.June 3, 2016 – 10:02 pmReplyCancel

  • Lisa @ The Meaning of Me - This is all so beautiful, Kristi. You express those internal dialogues so well, so beautifully. This is very special for me because my Husband is adopted and I often think so much about what that means, how it does or does not affect who he is today, what it means for Zilla’s life…lots of thoughts. So glad you wrote about this.
    The cow hear thing? Eew. Just eew.June 3, 2016 – 10:22 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Lisa <3 I don't think I knew that your husband was adopted but it sure comes with a lot. I don't feel comfortable even writing about so much of it but would be happy to talk to him/you anytime. And THANK YOU so so much for your sweet support. It means more to me than I know how to say.June 3, 2016 – 11:00 pmReplyCancel

  • Lisa @TheGoldenSpoons - I think I’ve told you before that my hubs is adopted. It took on a whole new dimension for him when we had kids. Trying to explain genetics and that he doesn’t know his etc. I wonder sometimes about his biological mom and if she ever wonders about him.

    Every summer, we go to 3 or 4 different family reunions. Just yesterday, one of my girls was asking why we do that. I found myself stumbling over the explanation of family and why it’s so important even when they don’t really know half the people at these things. My answer should have been ROOTS – because roots run deep and family reunions are like giving the tree water and sunshine and love.June 4, 2016 – 11:12 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I do remember you telling me that before and I so get how much it changes after kids. I honestly didn’t have much desire to find out more before Tucker was born. I figured I had a family and a decent life with love and the essentials. But after Tucker was born, there was a doc appointment when they were asking about history and I got obsessed with finding my bio mom.
      Aw poor girls – family reunions can be boring when you don’t know anybody but I love your words about them being like giving the tree water and sunshine and love. I bet they’d have more fun at them if you told them some funny stories about people there 🙂June 4, 2016 – 2:00 pmReplyCancel

  • yvonne - You already know I think this is an amazing post, and that your speed at writing it is amazing too.

    What you say about adoption is fascinating. that you feel as if you have dual roots. You seem to have such a strong connection with your dad, which is lovely to see. And of course, you are right that what’s here now is what matters and of creating new roots for your son.

    I wonder if anyone actually has roots they can trace all the way back? Thought I don’t know of any adoptions in our family, my grandfather’s mother wasn’t married and his father disappeared. The whole thing was shrouded in secrecy and we have no idea who our ancestors or relatives were on his father’s side. My grandfather was brought up as if he was a younger brother to his mother’s siblings – she was sent away to work as a maid.

    I love that you have Vikings in your past – I do too!June 5, 2016 – 5:58 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I so love your post, Yvonne. I just shared it on FN facebook’s page (which I don’t do often as you know). I think some families can get part of the roots maybe. My dad’s mother and my cousin (not bio) took the QE2 to trace back years ago and actually found an impressive amount of history for a long line back. The missing part though is that there are no roots or branches. It’s like following one line and what is one line in a family anyway? That’s like tracing me back with my adoptive family and saying “oh her relative was so and so” or same with bio family. Sadly, I think the women’s history is frequently left off, and the deaths and the giving the baby to an uncle was less documented even in the 60’s than today. Imagine 300 years ago… well, you can, I know, because you wrote it perfectly…June 5, 2016 – 10:50 pmReplyCancel

Sometimes, I wonder how I got to this place. This job, this city, this moment. This family. This house. These clothes, these friends, these neighbors and these beliefs. When did I start becoming offended by certain words? Was I not always offended by them? When did I grow up? Am I grown up now? It’s […]

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by Kristi Campbell

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  • JT Walters - How did any of us end up here? Brilliant metaphysical topic to talk about. My answer is we are the survivors and chosen ones who lead and follow your lead.

    I believe you quit your job 4 seconds after having Tucker. Your nose is growing you lasted four minutes.

    Is it the most amazing thing in the world how our children bring out the very best in us? We want to be better people, pro society and so selfless because that is the world we want our children to live in. Our hearts dance in our child’s laughter and our hearts die in their pain. We see the umbilical cord cut when they are born but it never really is. Once a Mom always a Mom.

    I have become a stranger to myself in Motherhood. Having a child with two rare disorders will do that to you. I know biochemistry like the back of my hand. To have become so specialized in rare diseases that I am correcting biochemical analysis for doctors so they help my son is totally not what I expected in life.

    To love someone so much, I only buy for him or, if it comes to it, I will skip meals so he eats healthy is also to be a Mom. I did this as a child when we were short on groceries so my younger siblings could eat. Joke in our house was you never had a sandwich without a bite out of it. By the time the little ones got the the sandwich it was gone so I’d skip a bite so they could eat.

    We are here as parents/caregivers of children with special needs. Thirty doesn’t matter nor does any other age but what we contribute to society. This website is a tremendous contribution to our community of really awesome special folks of every kind. Our stories are unique but we find solace and solidarity in the sharing of our experiences…sometimes through tears of grief and sadness and other times through joy and happiness.

    In a hundred years when they find the great internet dig (it will be archeological by then), they will come across as his website and read about how all these brave courageous champions of children who were not cookie cutter children ( a little different) and how their care provider/parent struggled for the playing field to be leveled and these children, arguably they last minority to be accepted, families came together to help every child around the world in need of it.

    We are here and we will never surrender!!!May 26, 2016 – 10:40 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - We ARE here and hellz to the yes for never giving up with our kids. Heres to contributing to society and to you who is doing such a great job with Alex. xoxoMay 28, 2016 – 1:11 amReplyCancel

  • Kerry - This is amazing stuff Kristi. I like your dream catcher substitute.
    🙂
    This particular prompt is going to take a lot of consideration, as I don’t want to repeat things I’ve written for FTSF in the past. Hmm.
    Life never turns out how we imagine. Isn’t that great?
    😉May 26, 2016 – 11:46 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Kerry,
      It really is great that life never turns out the way we’d imagined and I find myself repeating myself often with these prompts. Maybe I need to shake it up a little and come up with a wackier one! Hope you’ll join this week.May 28, 2016 – 3:46 pmReplyCancel

      • Kerry - Oh, no. That’s not what I meant.
        🙂
        Well, we all tend to repeat ourselves, now and again, but I always find your posts enlightening and heartfelt, all unique pieces of your life.
        I have just been thinking on a lot these last few weeks, it seems. I think I can approach this from a first-time angle. I think I know just who to give the credit, for how I got here.
        😉
        I would love to host this with you again one of these days, if I could come up with an interesting sentence starter to contribute.
        🙂May 28, 2016 – 7:24 pmReplyCancel

        • Kristi Campbell - No I know – it’s just that I was thinking the same, that I repeat some of these stories, especially when the prompt is related to how life’s paths bring us to where we are or what we dream or how we’re here… and I’d love to host with you again! Some weeks, I just think of something because I forget to ask. You’re welcome to host one of those with me if you’d like to!May 28, 2016 – 9:19 pmReplyCancel

  • Nicki - Aaah Kristi, so adore visiting your memories with you. And this line: “I didn’t come here easily, although in hindsight, I’m easily here.” A bottle full of gold flakes… truly magical! <3May 27, 2016 – 12:41 pmReplyCancel

  • My Inner Chick - ~~~He looked at it. “Why?” he asked
    “Because this holds the six-year-olds of both of us,” I said.~~~
    Kristi, you continually manage to pull at my heartstrings.

    xxx from MN.May 27, 2016 – 8:01 pmReplyCancel

  • Allie - I didn’t know you went to a “women’s college.” How did I not know that!? You’re 30 sounds sad. And how clever is Master Tucker? Those are the moments.May 28, 2016 – 8:14 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Did you ever read the post that talked about the Fruck? It was a van that drove us into Berkeley for the boys. hehe Anyway, I left after freshman year. There was the fact that I hated it. Oh and the fact that I used all my college money for that one year – that’s how badly I wanted to leave home.
      And yeah, 40 was better than 30 for sure.May 28, 2016 – 3:49 pmReplyCancel

  • Tamara - I love that so much: “Because this holds the six-year-olds of both of us,” I said.
    I do want a bottle of gold flakes and to keep hearing the dreams of my kids, and remembering my own, and how they turned out. Some great. Some not. Some still just forming. Many.May 29, 2016 – 11:28 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Your bottle of gold flakes can be moose sightings maybe or that you guys there KNOW GROOT. By the way, I showed Tucker Cass’ Groot costume again the other day like a billion times if you’re wondering about the hits. And yeah, here’s to the ones still forming.May 29, 2016 – 11:22 pmReplyCancel

  • Jack Steiner - Man, I wish I had a bottle that had the six-year-old I used to be and my kids. That is very cool, love that more than I can say.May 29, 2016 – 2:57 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I love it too. So many nights I feel like I’m flunking but this one, I was like “DUDE, here, we both win!” Thank you!May 29, 2016 – 11:23 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - I love the bottle that holds the 6-year-olds of you both…I agree, better than a dream catcher. I love reading all of your reflections about the past and how they made you you and how you don’t over-analyze them either. Those experiences were just how they were meant to be and brought you here to the now you and your now life and and even though we can look back at our pasts and wish that maybe we didn’t do certain things, I’m all about fate and believe that these past events were supposed to happen just the way they did.May 29, 2016 – 4:14 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - So much better than a dream catcher (although he still wants one and I still can’t find the one I had when I was his age). Em, your comment is amazing. For real. Sometimes I think there’s no point (and really there isn’t if you think about it) but I believe in fate too. Maybe we type to connect. I think that’s why we type. I also think that we type about the things that happened because we know the same stuff was in other’s worlds right?May 29, 2016 – 11:26 pmReplyCancel

      • Emily Cappo - Yes, that definitely explains it. And yes, we absolutely type to connect — it’s a lifeline for me, for sure.May 30, 2016 – 9:31 pmReplyCancel

  • Yvonne - Like so many other people have said, that bottle of gold flakes from when you were six is wonderful. Because of what you said to Tucker, but also that you kept it all these years. The earliest things I’ve got are some stories I wrote aged 10 and some other school notebooks. This whole post has a lovely almost magical feel to it. I enjoyed it!May 29, 2016 – 6:44 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I can’t believe I still had that bottle, although obviously I do because GOLD but that it worked, yes, there’s something about karma and life and moving on and gathering in. Or something. THANK YOU.May 29, 2016 – 11:27 pmReplyCancel

  • Kenya G. Johnson - Awwww how sweet. I don’t have anything like that I’ve saved from my childhood. I’m super sappy today. You just got me with the closing!June 2, 2016 – 12:02 pmReplyCancel

I wish I could remember the sentence I heard that night. I woke smiling even before the alarm went off. “He spoke! Oh, he spoke.” My baby was three years and three months old and I’d known the incessant chatter of other kids his age for years. I was one of the last in my […]

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by Kristi Campbell

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  • Allie - You have dreams like Rich – he usually dies in a plane crash. Y’all are crazy. I usually have happy dreams, about rock starts:)> And sweet little Tucker can’t wait to see you both.May 20, 2016 – 11:48 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - LOL to the whole “Yall are crazy.” I guess we are. I think I didn’t know you yet when I wrote this, but Rich may relate (and omg am I really posting a link to an old post in a comment – for nobody but you sweets). https://www.findingninee.com/ridiculous-me/
      Boom. the catastrophes.

      I CANT WAIT TO SEE YOUMay 20, 2016 – 10:45 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - I might be enamored with a minor part of this post, but I do love the floppy arm test…the best. 🙂 And, I too had dreams of my son talking before he actually did…May 20, 2016 – 11:55 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Aw, yeah, that floppy arm test gutted me too. I mean, I didn’t even know he was processing as awake, and even awake that he was processing. These boys of ours OMG.May 20, 2016 – 10:46 pmReplyCancel

  • Lisa @TheGoldenSpoons - Aw! Sweet, sweet boy! He’s mad such amazing progress just since I’ve known you and read this blog. I think we all dream of our kids being happy & successful – whatever that means for each one of them.May 20, 2016 – 12:13 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - He really has made such an amazing amount of progress, Lisa! Thank you!!! And yes, here’s to our kids being happy and successful – whatever that means for them. I love that because it’s so easy to feel like things are about ourselves, you know?May 21, 2016 – 8:23 pmReplyCancel

  • Josh - Any time you can wear a birthday hat while writing about dreams is a good time and a good day.May 20, 2016 – 12:24 pmReplyCancel

  • Tamara - Ohh! That story about the bear hit me so hard in the heart. “I’m here.” “Better than.”
    I used to dream about things before they happened, but oddly. Like months before my wedding? Weddings in Iceland. Weddings where I was wearing no makeup. Weddings I missed. Weddings, weddings, weddings.
    Before the babies, I had dreams they were born with teeth. Guess what, though?? In real life, my friend’s son was born with two teeth.
    That’s weird.
    And not even a dream.May 20, 2016 – 8:55 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Tamara, yeah, the bear… and I remember dreaming about things before they happened too… wow to weddings weddings. That is weird that your friend’s son was born with teeth after your dreams. lol.May 21, 2016 – 8:26 pmReplyCancel

  • Echo - I can only imagine how having a non-verbal child would feel. My son has always been extremely verbal and maybe, without trying to sound like an asshole, over verbal!

    When I was younger, my dreams never included children and now, my children run rampant in my dreams!May 21, 2016 – 12:13 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - LOL to overly verbal. And to be clear, I’m not sure Tucker would be considered non-verbal because he babbled but again, water was “ah” and helicopter was “hah” while tapping on his chest so… but he talks now!!!
      Aw to your kids running rampant in your dreams today!!May 21, 2016 – 8:43 pmReplyCancel

  • Kenya G. Johnson - Tucker picking up your arm to see if it would flop was so sweet. Sometimes on the weekends I go to bed before Christopher and he comes in to kiss me goodnight the same way I do him.

    Ewww to collecting boogers but been there, done that! I probably won’t be okay with it again until grandchildren.May 21, 2016 – 7:05 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Aw!! I love that Christopher comes to kiss you goodnight if you go to bed before him!!! EEEP!! LOL to the boogers and your grandchildren. May the grandkids be plentiful and the boogers less than.May 21, 2016 – 9:20 pmReplyCancel

  • Corinne Rodrigues - What a lovely bond you both share! Giving you the hat to wear while you work – that clutched at my heart and made me smile simultaneously.May 22, 2016 – 9:40 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Me too Corinne! I couldn’t not include it even though when I did not initially practice self compassion when I saw the photo. Sigh. xoMay 22, 2016 – 7:09 pmReplyCancel

  • yvonne Spence - This is so sweet. (Well apart from the booger part.) I’m so glad Tucker to see how well Tucker is doing.May 22, 2016 – 10:18 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Aw thanks, Yvonne. He’s doing pretty well. Some challenges of course… sigh.. but yeah. And lol to the boogers.May 22, 2016 – 10:44 pmReplyCancel

  • My Inner Chick - *****“I feel something,” he says.

    “That’s the magic,” I said.*****

    I just love you. Whooooooo are you?! xxxMay 23, 2016 – 10:05 pmReplyCancel

  • Josie Two Shoes - Time and again your posts take my breath away. Your stories of life – a mother’s life and her heart within, are the stories of so many mothers. The dream, to hear your child’s voice, and to now realize that dream, verifies that our dreams can become real and the things that we hold close can also become real. What touched me most? Your friend telling you that he was now better than ok. I don’t think you dreamed that, I think he wanted you to know. xoxoMay 24, 2016 – 9:45 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Oh Josie, thank you! What a wonderfully kind and sweet comment. I appreciate it more than I know how to say. And you know what? I think he wanted me to know he’s okay too… xoxoMay 25, 2016 – 9:40 pmReplyCancel

When I think about the day I was born, I feel sad for then-me and for the woman who gave birth to me. She must have been afraid and worried about who would raise me. She’d agreed, after all, to the loving of me, the carrying of me, and to the giving away of me. […]

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by Kristi Campbell

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  • Dana - I like the way you look at being reborn – just something that happens as we wake up each day and do new things. Take risks. Look at things differently. It’s such a hopeful approach to life, I think.May 12, 2016 – 10:19 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I don’t always remember to have a hopeful approach but thanks, Dana! Here’s to taking risks and looking at everything differently.May 13, 2016 – 8:47 pmReplyCancel

  • Marcia @Menopausalmom - I love the idea of being reborn through the big things AND the little moments in life. Beautiful post as always, Kristi!May 12, 2016 – 11:20 pmReplyCancel

  • deirdre - I was adopted too. I’ve tossed around the idea of finding my birth mother so many times the last few years. I have so many questions and I want to thank her. I love the idea of being reborn throughout our lives. I’m reborn daily I think. I love this post so much. I think being adopted makes us even more similar than ever. We seem to have such similar views on things! It always cracks me up!May 13, 2016 – 12:43 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Deirdre, I commented on your post too but I did actually find my birth mom and am so glad that I did. Please feel free to IM me if you’d like to talk about it (I should so write a post about it!!!). We do have way similar views on things and I love it!May 13, 2016 – 9:20 pmReplyCancel

  • Corinne Rodrigues - Hugs, Kristi. Life is full of ‘what-if’ moments, but there’s so many things about childhood over which we have no control. What we do have control over is how we transform that pain – and allow ourselves to be reborn over and again.
    I so enjoyed hosting this week’s #FTSF with you. Thanks for the opportunity.May 13, 2016 – 1:35 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I’m so glad that you co-hosted with me this week, Corinne, and thank you for your insightful and amazing sentence. I didn’t know where I was going with this and wrote it at the last minute, but I’m glad it made me think about the fact that we’re reborn so so often. Hourly, at times.May 13, 2016 – 9:23 pmReplyCancel

  • Joshua - Life is a series of moments punctuated by those where we realize we have just been reborn or so it seems to me.May 13, 2016 – 1:36 amReplyCancel

  • Dana Dominey Campbell - Oh, I love this SO much! Especially about the part where your son is playing with friends in your home. When THAT happens, isn’t it just the best?!? For me, when Christian didn’t talk until nearly 4, I thought he would never have true friends, go to prom, have a roommate, get married… Now he has three girls texting him – that he didn’t initiate. It’s all totally tame… they text about Minecraft, Rick Rordan books (“Lightning Thief,” author), super hero movies and the like. I told him he can’t date until he is 21 and I get to choose his wife and he is getting sarcastic and saying…”yeah, right.” No worries about where his interests will lay later on. I do miss the days of having him on my hip holding on. But, today the days are so much sweeter knowing that I can totally breathe and now that he’s not only going to be ok, but is thriving… staring in community theater and doing Improv of all things… (Remember he didn’t speak until nearly 4yrs old!) So, who knew! I love your writing SO, so much. It was great to write back and forth with you about two months ago about your son’s progress. You are the best Mom to him. Never forget that! Love, Dana in Oregon.May 13, 2016 – 2:20 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - You are the best comment leaver EVER DANA!! Thank you. I replied on FB but I so very hope that you know how much your stories and memories have inspired me to know that what Tucker achieves is so unknown still. I love love love that he plays with friends now. It wasn’t always the case, for sure. I so appreciate you sharing your son’s progress and WOW that he’s in theater and improv (improv takes some quick talking!!!!!). YOU are amazing and I have no doubt that so much of your sons progress is because he has the best Mom to HIM!! And thank you. Truly. <3May 13, 2016 – 9:29 pmReplyCancel

      • Dana Dominey Campbell - Thank you… I love to write, so really need to jump on into this, “Finish the sentence Friday,” thang… I finally have some free time (imagine that!) Hope to meet you somewhere day if you come to the west coast! – DanaMay 15, 2016 – 3:16 amReplyCancel

        • Kristi Campbell - Oh please do jump on this!!! Do you blog now because I think you don’t based on what we said before BUT I’d love to read what you write (and if you do and I already know this, please know my brain is cheese and I never remember in real life names with blog names!!!). So hope to meet you too!May 16, 2016 – 12:02 amReplyCancel

          • Dana Dominey Campbell - I have contemplated writing an autobiography… narcissist, self-involved parents, alcoholic dad, country-Club, loving, rated tennis playing, social climber mom. I survived being un-diagnosed bi-polar until my 30s, three fiances, got married… worked at Enron prior to getting pregnant, horrendous go-round being a Mary Kay Cosmetics team leader, bankruptcy, relocation, autism… son who did not speak until nearly 4, created an official Autism non-profit, ran it single-handedly for 4yrs… it musjhroomed, and I had to shut it down or probably lose my marriage…death of my mom at 42 (thank gawd), step Dad turned a-hole… son finding success, me becoming stable and breathing, hmm what else…. 😉May 16, 2016 – 2:37 am

        • Kristi Campbell - Dana, WOW, woman. You have great material. I really hope you will write an autobiography – I promise that I’ll read it (and share it here as well). Wow. xoxoMay 16, 2016 – 5:19 pmReplyCancel

          • Dana Dominey Campbell - Ready to get started in the next couple off months.May 16, 2016 – 5:52 pm

  • Kenya G. Johnson - I love this story. Your writing always takes me so many places. He was such a cute baldy too! I love the examples. We are indeed reborn for each mommy milestone and the times we have to roar at school when we didn’t know we had it in us.May 13, 2016 – 6:38 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - That I can roar at school is something I’d never have known I could do. I was so so shy (and still am when it comes to meeting moms and stuff) but man, at school? I’m like “ok let’s talk about this” all tough and stuff. That I cry thinking about other stuff doesn’t count 😉May 13, 2016 – 9:31 pmReplyCancel

  • Lisa @TheGoldenSpoons - Love this idea of us being reborn – so true, so hopeful. I get the wondering about the space between your adoption and your birth. My husband was adopted at 6 weeks old – I have wondered about those 6 weeks & I know he has, too.May 13, 2016 – 9:12 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Oh wow, Lisa. I didn’t realize your husband was adopted too, or, if I did, I’d forgotten. You know what’s funny? I never really thought much about those 8 days until once my dad was dating this lady who did this weird age regression thing with like muscle weakness??? It was a long time ago. Anyway, she said something bad happened to me during those 8 days (as if a baby alone with no boobies isn’t bad enough) and while it’s probably mumbo jumbo, I still wonder.May 13, 2016 – 9:33 pmReplyCancel

  • Tamara - I think it’s true – we’re reborn every day. Maybe every minute, really.
    Des was watching a baby video of himself yesterday. Usually he knows himself in photos but seemed confused by this. I wonder how many times he’s been reborn since that video!May 13, 2016 – 10:28 amReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Aw! Aw to Des watching a baby video of himself. Tucker loves watching those and has been reborn over and over.May 13, 2016 – 9:34 pmReplyCancel

  • Deb - Oh you with the making me cry every time!! XoxoMay 13, 2016 – 10:35 amReplyCancel

  • Kerry - Wow Kristi. You reveal so much about yourself in these posts. That is most of what keeps me coming back since I first discovered them. I had no idea you were adopted. Well, of course, why would I have?
    🙂
    We are reborn in so many ways. I have my ability to write again and I can’t wait to get to writing my own rebirth story for this week’s link up. Beautiful words you’ve written here.May 13, 2016 – 12:29 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Hey Kerry, thank you. I feel doubly honored that you said that in this one because I had to write it so quickly and felt like I left it unfinished… and yeah, I was adopted. I should write a post about it. And please do write about your own rebirth and link it up. I’d love to read it.May 13, 2016 – 10:03 pmReplyCancel

  • Allie - This broke my heart Kristi. What did happen in those eight days? Where were you, and why did it take so long? You don’t have to answer now…well chat in two weeks!!!!May 13, 2016 – 6:47 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Hey Sweets. I have no idea what happened in those 8 days, and I guess it didn’t really take that long considering the times. The only reason I think about it is because my dad dated a woman once who did age regression and said that something bad happened during that time which may be true or maybe not??? But still, I wonder!!! Can’t wait to see you!May 15, 2016 – 11:09 pmReplyCancel

  • Emily - It’s so true that we can be reborn for so many different things. Turning points I suppose. I think the depth in how you think about yourself during the time before you were physically in the arms of your parents eight days after you were born is so powerful. I think that takes courage to even go there. Thank you once again for sharing such brave thoughts. xoMay 14, 2016 – 6:04 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - They are turning points, I think. In fact, I looked back at a post I did called just that for ideas!!! Thank you so so much for your support and sweet wonderful comments. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate them and you.May 15, 2016 – 11:10 pmReplyCancel

  • Lisa @ The Meaning of Me - How did I not know this about you and your birth/forever family??? Wow.
    Beautiful post – especially that last line. My favorite.May 15, 2016 – 2:21 amReplyCancel

  • Louise - This is so beautiful. We ARE reborn so many times in our lives – thank you for putting your story and words behind that sentiment to really explain it.

    I agree we’re reborn in our children – and, like you say, in a million other ways as we grow and change and experience life.May 15, 2016 – 10:19 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - Louise, thank YOU. We are so reborn over and over… here’s to knowing when it matters and thank you again.May 15, 2016 – 11:12 pmReplyCancel

  • Dana Dominey Campbell - Blogdom… here I come! I’ll keep you posted. 😉May 16, 2016 – 2:40 amReplyCancel

  • linda Atwell - Out One Ear - Yep. I think we have many, many rebirths over our years. Every time we have a new interest. Sometimes I think of them as the different seasons of our life, how in one season something is super important and then the next season arrives and what was important in the last season doesn’t seem quite so important now. Sometimes I wonder, how can that be? How can I be so entranced with something and think it is the one and only or all. Then time passes and another passion takes its place. So I know this is related to kids, our kids, but I think rebirths happen with them and with us in so many ways. I love rebirths. They are exciting and keep us feeling alive. I think. Anyway.May 18, 2016 – 7:19 pmReplyCancel

    • Kristi Campbell - I think you’re right about having many rebirths, and also yes, to being completely entranced with something and then later bing like OMG really??? Here’s to alive. Feeling it over and over.May 19, 2016 – 10:45 pmReplyCancel

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