RISE MAGAZINE

Finding Support

‘We’re Here for You’ – Support and straight talk helped me trust my lawyer and her team.

September 01, 2015 by

Article Thumbnail
On my first day in family court after my son was placed in foster care, I walked up to my court-appointed attorney, introduced myself andasked, “How can you help me?” He just stared me up and down. In court, he said nothing on my behalf. I was furious.

That day, I saw a woman zipping around the waiting area, talking to other women. She seemed to really care, so I asked her, “Are you a lawyer?” … Read More

Domestic Violence

Separate But Happy – I confused loneliness with love, but I recognized abuse.

September 01, 2015 by

Illustration by Asiah Ajibabi

When I met Rene, I don’t know what I saw in him because physically he wasn’t too handsome. I think it was his character, his aggressiveness, which later on was what made me leave.

I met Rene at work and got close to him by asking him to help me. He started saying to me, “You owe me a lot.” “I’ll pay you back,” I told him. “But not with money,” … Read More

Domestic Violence

‘Mommy’s Going Away for a While’ – I couldn’t change fast enough to bring my children home.

September 01, 2015 by

Illustration by Freddy Bruce

My son was 4 and my daughter was 2 when I decided to place them in foster care. At the time, I was living with an abusive man who terrified me. I had nowhere to live and no way to support them if I left my boyfriend, but I knew I needed to leave this man.

I was afraid that my children would have the same bad experiences as I’d had … Read More

Rise Magazine

To Bathe in Gold – I try to see the good in my son and in me.

September 01, 2015 by

Article Thumbnail
My son is very bright and handsome. But instead of using all his gifts to shine, instead he slumps when he walks. He coasts in school. Hisgrades drop, then he studies a bit to catch up, then again his grades drop because he gets bored.

He is constantly entangled with his teachers, who he says are stupid.

At times, my son’s scorn turns on me, too.

When we first went … Read More

Rise Magazine

‘What Can I Do?’ – As teens, my children needed me to try new ways to parent.

September 01, 2015 by

Article Thumbnail
When my children first came home from foster care, life was different for all of us. I was clean and sober, thrown into a new apartment withthree little strangers. My children were 10 years, 5 years and two weeks old when they were removed, and 12, 7 and 18 months when they were returned.

Old-School Techniques

At first, I was very confused how to parent my children. The fact is, during my children’s early years I used … Read More

Article Thumbnail

Learn About the Rise & Shine Parent Leadership Program and Apply for 2024!

Learn more about the Rise & Shine Parent Leadership Program and how to apply! Sign up for an open house information session.

Back to top

Translate »