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Thinky McThinker

I’m not being ungrateful. I did see that Judy nominated me for a Thinking Blogger Award which is insanely kind. I’m just coming off of the highs and lows of a visit and have just not gotten around to thinking about who to bestow the awards on myself. Pardon me if the following people have already been nominated by others but, again, as these took flight during the visit, I haven’t kept up with blogs as much as I usually do. Also, I don’t care if you nominated them, too. If they’re here, they influenced me in some way or another and deserve another nomination. So there.

1. First and foremost, Nicole at Paragraphein. Why? As I slowly came to terms with my adoption emotions, Nicole was someone I turned to via blog and other internet connections for words of advice, words of comfort, words of understanding. She went through her WTF moment and subsequent anger and processing phase before I did (though not too much before hand) and reading her words when I did made so much FREAKING sense to me that there were nights that I would sit with her blog open and just cry. She’s made a difference in how I view things like adoption reform and has inspired me to be the best parent, no matter the determiner, I can be.

2. Kateri of Wet Feet. No, she’s not just here because she’s super stylish. Kateri has a wealth of information on her blog, from birth parent stuff to breastfeeding information to cloth diapering to books to general good stuff. Her writing is intriguing. Her amazing, involved Motherhood shines through her words. The podcast which contains her story of what happened will break your heart but it’s a must-listen. Kateri was one of the first to welcome me to the birth mother blogging niche. I will constantly consider her an inspiration.

3. AfrindieMum. I love this woman. I do. Her words. Her heart. Her mothering. Her unwavering attitude. Her pictures. Her pink hair. The way she challenges others to look past themselves and into the ethical heart of adoption. When I met this Mama last year, I was amazed at how wonderful she is. She doesn’t have all the answers to all of life’s problems or adoption’s problems and she’s able to admit that but she has some unique perspective that I love hearing about in our own journey. I consider her a friend. Who lives too far away.

4. “Cookie Speaks” aka Jan Baker aka my co-blogger at the birth/first parent blog. Jan is, simply stated, freaking amazing. She challenges people in their thought processes. She challenges people to action. She challenges you no matter if you’re a birth mother, adoptive mother or adoptee… or random walk-by-blogger. She’s unapologetically challenging. I love that. It was challenging (ha!) when we first started speaking back in the day but simultaneously necessary in my own healing process. Since I’ve been blogging with Jan since October of last year, she has continued to teach me things about myself, about adoption, about ethics, about reform, about compassion, about action, about writing, about her awesome self and about the search for needed answers. She’s also boosted me up a little and given me more of an ability to speak what’s on my mind, regardless of what Joe Schmoe thinks. (PS – Anyone else annoyed with commenter “John” on the blogs? Good grief.)

5.  Brad @ Diarrhea of a Madman. Brad challenges birth father stereotypes just by having a blog. While he’s dealt with his own demons, his public presence continues to remind people that birth father’s are a real and vital part of the adoption triad. I personally love Brad because a) he’s not perfect, b) he’s got a sense of humor, c) he’s got a dark side, and d) well, he’s Brad. We bonded back in the day. I encourage all people to read what he has to say, even if he writes sporadically at times. Reading what birth father’s have to say on adoption, birth fatherhood, ethics and life in general can give us a great insight as to what NEEDS to change in the adoption world. Plus, he’s just awesome. Do it.

There are others. You know who you are. I have learned from every single blog I have ever commented on and some that I haven’t as well. Some of the most challenging blogs are the ones I learn the most from so, basically, keep challenging others to think.

AND, as for Judy from Just Enjoy Him for nominating me: you never fail to make me all weepy and snotty. I have learned from you as well, my friend. Please keep talking, no matter what crap people might try to throw at you. You have a vital and important viewpoint that the world needs to hear and learn about. You are unique. You are snarky. You are beautiful. You are wonderful. And you area a FABULOUS mother to one very lucky little boy. I love you all. Even Frank. :)