#Adoptive Parent Resources Online

[arkanis-englishupdates]

SUMMARY OF ALL ARKANIS POVs

DAY 2 — 04/09/2024

The day starts with Febatista, Choke, Pac, Guhzera and JVNQ logging first, both started to build their houses/bases or explore looking for resources. JVNQ, Pac and Febatista met to talk, leading the conversation to the topic of robbing the bank. The trio then entered the second floor of the bank stealthily, managing to overhear a conversation between Jota and the Banker (The conversation was about the payment that experts would start receiving for their work). After hearing and being caught by the Banker, Choke appeared and the four start chatting before they go their separate ways.

Suddenly, Febatista receives two books from nowhere, the book 1 called "..." and the book 2 called "Hi dad.", all by "Little son" while building your house. The book 1 contained only the phrase "hi dad..." and the book 2 contained the following text "I really want to meet you... I hope we can one day...". After that, Febatista met with the Mayor and the two had a meeting about this "son" (What the two didn't count on was that Meiaum sneakily followed them and listened to the meeting).

At the meeting, Jota told Febatista that someone who called himself Febatista's son said he would return as soon as his father arrived in the city. Jota also spoke about the tragic end that his parents had (We discovered that Jota's parents were the couple killed in the suspicious fire many years ago).

After that, another situation of building vandalism was reported, part of the museum was blown up, luckily the arts were spared. No one knows who did the crime (Sheriff Jorge and Officer Cléber believe that this incident is linked to the fire at City Hall, which destroyed part of the library and the second floor of City Hall).

Moments later, while Guhzera was in his castle, someone knocked him out and trapped him in a cage in the middle of nowhere. Using their cell phones to ask for help, everyone who was online went to the place where Guhzera was, seeing a book on an altar near the cage. The book contained the following text "Don't try to free my prisoner. The cage is protected with a password... Without knowing it, you all will never be able to get him out."

After much investigation, Bagi discovers that the password is "Bia Raux", managing to free Guhzera from the cage.

At Bira's bar, the owner of the place told Felps, Meiaum, Guaxinim and Himaru that Bia Raux was a person to keep away from, that she also wears a mask and that she only brings chaos to the city. Bira also said that the city used to be bustling, but due to a type of stomach illness, most of the residents died (Masks seem to be a type of protection against this disease, and that all specialists will soon have their own mask). We also discovered that Bira was the one who adopted Jota after the tragedy that occurred with his parents, raising him as if he were his own son.

After that, the day was chaotic as always, with fights between some participants, which have since been resolved, house invasions, etc.

Felps, Guaxinim, Matt and Meiaum also made a plan to invade the second floor of the city hall through the opening caused by the fire, with Felps succeeding with his bunny boots but finding nothing suspicious or important.

Yayahz was also fined for several crimes, having to do community service as a way to pay.

Quelpenna and Maethe were not online that day too.

[If there is something that we haven't reported here, please let us know! There are too many POVs to keep track of accurately.]

[jewish-vents]

I’ve been really struggling lately with my Jewish identity and I just need someone’s advice on this.

I am a Mexican Ashkenazic Jew.

My mother is (potentially) ashkenazic by blood but is technically a convert by modern standards.

My father is a Mexican gentile who had been in the process of converting by the time I was born as to make me a “Jewish” baby.

(I know that’s not very inclusive but it was considered the norm when I was younger in the area my parents where in, people saw me as less Jewish or not Jewish at all because my mother was only a convert and my father wasn’t Jewish by blood either so my parents tried to combat that by both being being “official” Jews with conversion.)

So when my father was converting he adopted Sephardic traditions despite not being technically Sephardic himself but it was recommended by the local rabbi my parents saw at the time because he thought the traditions where “similar enough” to what my father knew from his own heritage to make the conversation process easier.

(Kinda racist I know but granted it was the early 2000’s and a lot of Sephardic traditions are things my father did grow up with or had very similar experiences—it’s possible he’s a crypto jew from how similar some of his experiences were and the basic knowledge of his family history but it was never DNA confirmed as my parents where too poor to afford it.)

For most of my life I grew up just thinking I was a normal Ashkenazic Sephardic Jew but now I’m reconsidering everything I know because of this. I feel like a fake, that maybe HaShem won’t love me like other Jews because I’m just some gentile stealing the traditions of real Jews, the real Jews HaShem loves and choose to keep the commandments.

I feel wrong for loving Judaism so much, I try to ignore that feeling because a jew is a jew to me but it’s always looming there.

When I read the weekly Torah portion it’s there in the back of my mind, when I join my mother for Shabbat prayers it’s in the back of my mind, when I follow Jewish content creators online and journal down Jewish recipes or whatever I find interesting—it’s in the back of my mind.

It’s made worse by the fact I can barely speak or read any Hebrew due to my learning disabilitys & I’ve never been able to have a bar mitzvah due to not having the money to afford Hebrew school and really anything needed for a bar mitzvah—plus being queer & trans makes me have a really complicated relationship with how I view religion in general.

Where do I go from here?

Am I even really Jewish?

Well, first, you are a Jew.

You were born to a Jewish mother, which makes you Jewish by every standard.

Not speaking Hebrew doesn't make you any less of a Jew. Not having a bar mitzvah party doesn't make you any less of a Jew.

Being queer certainly doesn't make you any less of a Jew.

And having a complex relationship with Jewish tradition is one of the most Jewish things there is.

If you want some resources on being Jewish and queer, Eshel actually has a list of queer Jewish organizations, though they are all North American or Israeli.

Perhaps some of our followers know of organizations in other parts of the world? 🐞

[comradeboyhalo]

i really like the idea of trust vs reliability when it comes to q!bad. bad isnt a very trustworthy individual, partly because hes a chronic liar and prankster, partly because he refuses to trust others in return. but he's a reliable babysitter, and has always been one since the adoption event, which leads to this fun dichotomy that parents dont trust him with their backs, but they do trust him with their kids.

reliability is so important in a server that's always changing. there's a ton of parents who are great babysitters, but there arent many that are consistently online everyday, that have all the resources for cookie quests and backpack upgrades, that have hours to sink into creating elaborate stasis chambers. bad's the only one who has access to all ninho rooms, the only one who's babysat all eggs (although sunny is the only one that hasnt been babysat one-on-one). the only flaw on bad's part is that he isn't available during the morning shift, which is why im interested to see that if, in the future, tubbo will end up getting the same rep as bad. but part of the reason bad's built up such a rep is due to the fact he's an og islander, and has had a lot more opportunities to prove himself, egg safety wise.

bad lost a lot of trust with others when he began to spiral after the eggs were kidnapped, and his rep only worsened after purgatory. yet the only parent to stop entrusting him with their kids was roier and, ironically, in his absence, bad became pepito's main caretaker after foolish. he still has yet to lose his reliability and i really wonder if he ever will. i can only think of two scenarios: he has an actual villain and/or possession arc, or cc!bad just stops logging in frequently.

[jnephrite]

jaceverse timeline (with possible ages!) because dc timeline is so fucked up so let me just alter some canon facts real quick :3

year 0 — Harleen Quinzel (26) officially meets the joker, and becomes the Harley Quinn the same year

year 1 — Harley Quinn (30) dumps the Joker and moves in with her BFF—soon girlfriend—Poison Ivy. The Joker goes on a murder spree as a tantrum. Kills people from Crime Alley, including the Drews, Morgan Drew (13) becomes an orphan after witnessing the death of her parents.

Morgan meets Tim Drake (13) and Corinthia in Gotham Academy. Jason Todd (15) dies. Harley Quinn gives birth to Lucy Quinzel.

year 2 — Morgan Drew’s (14) teenage “rebellion” began. She sneaks out of the orphanage to steal from easy folks. Steals to reminisce about the time when she was free— she was already a thief before her parents died— with alive parents and to help with school expenses even though she attends Gotham Academy on scholarship. Detective Bullock tries to stop and catch her.

She began idolising Harley Quinn for being able to stand up against the Joker, realises that if there’s one person in the world who would help her take him down, it would be her. 14-year-old—going on 15 in a few months—Morgan’s crimes took another step by terrorising civilians and attends a Wayne Charity Event where she steals important jewelry from Selina Kyle (36). She was beginning to make a public name for herself, Gothamites called her Quinni (Harley Quinn Mini) with her DIY HQ jacket.

year 3 — Now known as Carnival to others and after saving her from the wrath of Penguin & Fish Mooney, Harley Quinn (33) begrudgingly takes her in as her sidekick officially. Morgan Drew (15) claims it as the best bday gift and began donning on a new Carnival costume that’s not a poor rip-off of Harley’s jester outfit.

Tim Drake (15) forms Young Justice. Morgan meets Superboy (16) as his civilian identity, Conner Kent because of Tim Drake and they become online friends.

Began terrorising Joker as much as she could with her limited resources.

year 4 — Morgan Drew (16) trains hard. Carnival sometimes annoys, sometimes aids Robin (Tim Drake) in his missions where she meets Superboy as Carnival. Becomes an unofficial Young Justice member and later then recruited by Amanda Waller in a team called Young Riot.

Harley Quinn (33) takes on the alter-ego, Heather Lee to officially foster Morgan. Eventually she, along Poison Ivy (35)— using an alter-ego for the documents as well—adopts her.

year 5 — Harley Quinn (34) officially becomes a member of the batfamily along with Selina Kyle (38). Morgan Drew (17) reunited with childhood friend, Jason Todd (19). She exploded all of the Joker bases she could find with true help of Red Hood.

The Joker plays a revenge, hurting Morgan’s friends, Cori and Ani. Angry, she almost killed the Joker before Batman swoops in to put him back to Arkham.

Harley sent her away to her mom. Morgan meets Lucy Quinzel (4) officially when she visits Mrs. Quinzel.

year 6 — Batman (40) disappears and Dick Grayson (24) temporarily becomes Batman with Damian Wayne (10) as his Robin. Young Justice disbands. Tim Drake (18) becomes Red Robin. Morgan Drew (18) has a fell out with her mothers, abandoning the name Carnival and becoming a much violent version herself as Delphi.

other notes:

She eventually returns as Carnival

Will take journ for college and will become a journalist as her adult career. (Lois Lane fan)

Will have a daughter named Gwen! Having Gwen starts to make Morgan want to quit as Carnival

[solar-sunnyside-up]

I was wondering if you had any resources for people who don't have direct action groups nearby and still want to participate in direct action. I still rely on parents for getting to places and I don't have reliable public transit, so I don't have the option to go to many protests or direct action groups. Do you have any resources on things I can do in my neighborhood (that aren't little free libraries/pantries because my neighborhood doesn't have much foot traffic)

Hey there sprout!! 🌱🌱

It depends on where you live tbh, but given I just did a rural one imma give you some ideas that you could do in the suburbs/urban neighborhoods assuming you don't have a car in a car centric world!

Look into the groups that are in your area and read up on the actions they do. You might not be able to go to events regularly but keeping up with local events is still good to feel like there's momentum! You also wanna look into what programs exist. I'm personally from an Oil loving/God fearing hick town and yet!! There's a million programs going on they just don't advertise or market themselves so you'd never know! Like I just attended an online webinar for Dark Sky Reserve policies for my town this week?? Wild stuff I'd never know if I wasn't researching my own city all the damn time

Cleaning/ gruella building public features are very cool! And something you can do in your own backyard or in the middle of the night in your streets or while your waiting for your shitty transit to get there! (I do that last one a lot, renoed some bus stops and cleaned them up bc I was BORED) Some Secret groups have starting installing benches/painting crosswalks/renovating bus shelters that do exist and technically that is something you can do. Also could look into adopt-a-stop programs.

Gruella gardening! Seed Bombs of native wild flowers and just chucking them around when you go on walks/go out or Moss Graffiti is also an option! Just pick an abandoned spot (on a walk to somewhere or just easily accessible to you in general)

Things like designing your own newsletter/zine/stickers for your community is also neat!

Check in with your Community Association! You'd be surprised at what those guys can do, I've seen anything ranging from movie nights and game nights to craft clubs and yoga classes to pubs/restraunts that fund the CA. Same goes with a community garden/fridge in your area. Those guys need vollunteers

Open up a free toolshed/ clothing closet at a school/library/CA center/abandoned building and hold a drive to fill it up. You'd be surprised at how excited ppl get over those!

[yanyanobsessed]

continuing on my yandere vampire fics from a while ago.. I figured the best way to expand on it would be to go back to the beginning.

Note: Theres a lot of worldbuilding here lol, Probably my heaviest work yet, contentwise (not in a dark sense, this post is just hefty when it comes to her word count)

Grace Addams (she/her)

Yandere type: Worshipper, obsessive

Grace was adopted quite young, raised by a wealthy couple with her every need met and accounted for by leaps and bounds. Anything she wanted, her dads did their best to accommodate- which thankfully was relatively easy for them, given that they were in no short supply of funds.

As a child, Grace was very quiet for the most part- almost too quiet, save for the occasions where she was left hungry or with a stomach ache, in the time prior to her vampiric nature coming to light. Her parents discovered quite early on that she was not exactly human, delightfully greeted by quite a number of little fang-marks when she went through teething as a toddler.

Vampires weren't unheard of by any means, but the couple lived in a rather wealthy rural area, and they had never in their lives encountered one in the flesh. However, having discovered the nature in their precious daughter, they felt it would be most appropriate to reach out online, finding comfort in the form of a number of forums and online communities centered on vampiric parenting and resources. They adapted their routines for her, swapping the baby food and solids that had caused her many a stomach ache with meats and iron-enriched tomato juice, which they had read online served as a temporary substitute for blood in the time it would take them to get in contact with a vampiric supply center for her. They abandoned the practice of using garlic in their cooking, so on and so forth, and with time Grace became a much quieter child, content and enriched.

As Grace grew, she remained very silent in her movements- thanks to her supernatural nature, she was able to move much faster than the average child, soundlessly darting around the manor she was raised in. Well, soundless aside from the occasional giggle when she was particularly giddy, or the wailing cries that followed her bumping into something in her fun. Despite her stealth and speed, she proved to be quite clutsy at times, running into things quite frequently even when she was moving at a normal speed.

When it came time for Grace to enter schooling, her parents debated quite a bit, before resolving that it would be good to enroll her at a school in the city, as opposed to one in the rural area they inhabited. They remained in their manor, but began arranging to take Grace to and from school each day, making the hour drive each direction in order to allow her the chance to meet other kids who might not judge her as harshly as those in the rural lands were almost guaranteed to.

This went on for years, with Grace attending class with other kids, packing her little blood pack and tupperware of meat each day to class, shifting to just a thermostat full of blood as she got older. By 7th grade, she had grown accustomed to this routine quite perfectly- She now was brought to school and back home by a private driver her parents hired, but that change aside, things remained relatively unchanged. Grace was silent in her classes, hardly ever talking with her classmates unless it was required, preferring to spend her time studying or reading. It was in one of these such moments, where she had her nose in her latest reading, on the day when everything changed.

Mrs. Lorella called everyone's attention to the front of the room, interrupting the chatters of first period with an introduction. A new student would be joining them. Grace looked you over without much intrigue, simply wishing to acquaint herself visually with you so that she would know your name if it came necessary- and yet, she was surprised when you met her eyes perfectly, honed in on her out of all the students present.

After introducing yourself, as soon as Mrs. Lorella let you go, you made your way straight to Grace's desk, smiling at her. "Is this seat taken?" Grace shyly shook her head, and you eagerly plopped your things down, scooting in right next to her with a smile that rivaled the sun in brightness.

It was that way for the rest of your classes- There was only one period in which the seat next to Grace was not available, and in every other opportunity you didn't hesitate to take the one which was, even looking a little saddened when you saw that one taken seat. Grace was slightly put off by you at first- She didn't dislike you by any means, but you were strange to her. She had always been naturally avoided or picked on by other kids, and although she shut that down quite quick to the best of her ability, that didn't mean she searched for companionship in her classmates. She thought she had more than enough of the stuff with her fathers, whom she was incredibly fond of. And yet, as time went on, and you continued to insert yourself into her life, she found it hard to deny that she enjoyed your company.

Within the next few weeks, her walls had begun to come down, and she found herself increasingly giddy when she was around you. One day at lunch hour, without even consciously realizing it, she offered for you to come over to her house after school. It was an offhand remark, in reply to you asking her about her driver, and yet the way your face lit up in response made her heart flutter in a way that was completely alien to her. You eagerly agreed, happy to spend time with her as she found herself smiling in response.

Thus began a routine of sorts- Most days after classes, you would go to Grace's house, as your parents were busy with work and made no complaint to the extra hours afforded by not having to drive you home, and you and Grace would spend the afternoon together. By the time you had to go home, Grace would accompany you, and listen to your ramblings the entire car ride to your home, spending the drive back in silence, dreamily looking out the window.

Grace's parents were quick to catch on to her fondness for you, welcoming you as one of their own in a way.

Over the years, you and Grace became attached at the hip - anywhere you went, Grace followed, and vice versa. Any time you had to spend apart, Grace found herself lamenting the distance, eagerly texting you in efforts to close the gap electronically, which proved comforting to her worries. However, it was noticable that any time you were apart from her, she became visibly antsy. She would tap her foot, fidget with her family rings, look around as if she could spot you nearby- and don't forget checking her phone often, debating whether to call you or not. As the attachment between you grew, so did her protectiveness, to a very obvious degree.

Now, on the nature of Grace's vampirism- While the school she went to wasn't necessarily hostile to her kind, her parents were instructed when she was first enrolled to teach her to keep it under wraps. While being a vampire wouldn't get you hunted openly like in the olden days, government intervention didn't prevent the prejudice that still ran deep in some people, and they found that it would be safer for their little girl if she didn't rampantly go around showing off her vampirism.

Grace had been very good about this rule of her parents' for her entire schooling- and yet, like most of her outward shell, it unraveled quite easily when it came to you.

One day, when you were at her house, you questioned her about her fidgeting. She bit her lip, continuing to twist her rings as her eyes flitted around the empty library you two presently occupied your time in.

"..Can I tell you a secret, Y/N?"

"Of course! You can tell me anything- I'm very good at keeping secrets, my mom says."

Grace took a deep breath.

"..I'm a vampire." She blurted out, cheeks rosy as she watched your reaction with fearful eyes.

A moment passed, and she just about felt her stomach drop, when you suddenly smiled, your entire body language brightening with intrigue.

You eagerly questioned her about it, taking the news in stride as you rattled off all your curiosities, holding both of her hands in yours as you did so, a habit of yours that Grace found herself quite fond of.

From that day onward, Grace found her attachment to you growing- She had never before even considered draining someone, and yet these days she found her eyes drifting to your neck dangerously often. She always managed to catch herself, although it was in the private moments that the urge came strongest. She always reeled herself in however, and was able to restrain herself.

That was, until sometime in the summer after your highschool years had finished, when a blood shortage had been wearing her thin, and you had been teasing her privately at every turn regarding her fangs, and how you would let her bite you if she wanted (which never failed to fluster her immensely, might I add.)

(Stopping here for now, lemme know what y'all think and any ideas you might have regarding Grace!)

[gladlypants]

Placement#: 6 Length of stay: Legal risk pre-adoption / 1 month :( Age: infant (11 months) Traits: Clingy Likes: Oaty O's, banana slices, music wiggles, bouncing, standing up, dancing fruit videos, Miss Rachel Dislikes: bedtime, naptime, hair washing

-------------------------------------------------------

Our Amazon wishlist for children and teens in foster care in our home.

For more information on becoming a licensed foster parent or supporting foster youth and foster families in your community in other ways, contact your local Department of Family and Children Services, private foster care agencies, or search for online resources in your area.

Names, confidential details and personal information will never be shared here.

[fictionadventurer]

Would you be able to tell me more about how pro-life positions are beneficial to women?

I have been becoming more pro-life over the past year because I see edges of this argument online, but I don't know enough to try to clearly explain it to myself, much less to other people. One point someone brought up that helped me see this differently was that abortions are a band-aid solution to sexual abuse and help make it easier to hide sexual violence. And I have also seen the point people make that companies would rather provide abortion care than maternity leave because it keeps people working.

I'm curious if you have other thoughts that can help me affirm this point both to myself and to others? I think there's a lot of vitriol around how people speak about women in abortion discussions, and it can make it hard for people who are on the fence to engage. And having more examples of how pro-life advocates care for women would make it easier to enter into the conversation, especially with people who take a feminist approach to the topic.

(I also want to affirm that I'm asking this in good faith, as someone who wants to learn sincerely, and I hope you might respond sincerely too. I'm taking it for granted that a fetus is also a human, so I'm more interested in how to bring up this other part of the discussion with people. If this is a topic you know less about, that's all right too.)

I tend to approach abortion debates by keeping a laser-focus on the fact that the fetus is a human and a person, because we need to remind people that no problem that the mother faces justifies killing an innocent human being. That said, the pro-life position is infinitely better for women in a bunch of different ways. I'm not going to provide sources, because there are lots of better blogs devoted to that kind of thing (@prolifeproliberty is one that's coming to mind), but I can provide a few talking points.

The biggest benefit a pro-life position provides to a woman is that she doesn't have to live with the fact that she killed her own child. People understand on an instinctive level that a woman is pregnant with a baby; they can try to gloss over it with rhetoric, but the truth remains that the woman pregnant with a human being with its own separate life to live, and abortion violently ends that life. Abortion regret is a very real thing; there's a vast increase in depression and suicide in post-abortive women, and these women often can't get help for such regret, because people deny that it exists, or because "it was her choice".

A pro-life position is also infinitely more empowering to women. Abortion supporters look at a pregnant woman and tell her, "You can't do this. You can't raise a child. You can't have a career. You can't get out of poverty. This will destroy your life." The pro-life position tells a woman that she can do this. She's strong enough. She's smart enough. Both she and her child can have fulfilling lives, because we can help her. The pro-life community provides tons of resources to help women get the supplies and medical care and support that they need to either raise the child or to find adoptive parents to help raise it. Abortion only gets rid of the child--it doesn't solve any of the other problems that made it so difficult for the woman to have a child.

Abortion is also the single greatest tool to allow men to sexually abuse women. The pro-abortion idea that men are against abortion because they want to oppress women is laughable. Men get no benefit from a pro-life position. Abortion allows men to sleep around as much as they like, and if they get a woman pregnant, they don't have to pay child support--they just pay for her abortion and go on their merry way. No concern for her mental or physical or emotional health--just convenience for him. Abortion turns both woman and child into objects for a man's pleasure, to be disposed of when they're not fun anymore.

I could go on for ages, but to keep this simple, I'll just list a few other points:

Abortion greatly increases a woman's risk of breast cancer, and can cause fertility problems later in life.

The abortion pill is extremely dangerous, especially used unsupervised, because it can cause extreme bleeding and other complications.

Abortion allows sexual abusers to hide the evidence of their sexual abuse and keep women trapped longer. This includes human-trafficking and prostitution situations.

Women are often pressured into abortion because of lack of support from their family or community. People might be willing to help her pay for the abortion, but if the woman chooses to have the child, people are unwilling to provide long-term support--it was "her choice", so she has to bear all the responsibility. A decision for abortion made under that kind of pressure isn't really concerned about "a woman's choice."

As you said, employers are far more willing to pay for abortion than they are to provide much more expensive maternity leave, health insurance, etc. It can serve as another tool for employers to oppress workers.

Abortion supporters are often so focused on increasing access to abortion that they put women at risk. They have shot down and repealed bills that require abortion clinics to be licensed and inspected and to meet certain minimum medical standards. They've allowed teenagers to get abortions without parental notification, even though they're legally not competent to make other medical decisions, and the abortion procedure could put the teen's health at risk (plus this can cause teens to be trapped even longer in trafficking situations). They shoot down measures that would require women to be given more information about the abortion procedure and other options--even though informed consent is a cornerstone of medical ethics. If abortion supporters were truly concerned about women, they would be willing to put some of these common-sense protective measures in place.

[babyyarlert]

Sera Lewis

Full name: Seraphim Lewis (she/her)

African American

• Cis woman, lesbian

• Age: 29 (June 24)

• Signs: Cancer𖤓, Leo☾, Libra↑

• Personality: big heart, optimistic, flirty, confident in herself, fear of vulnerability though she’s a huge romantic, stubborn, can often be a bit of a control freak, caring, good listener

• Height: 5’8 or 173cm

• Eyes: dark brown

• Hair: black

Occupation

• Member and backing vocals in alt rock band ‘your mom’s old sedan’. She primarily plays bass.

• Founder of an online LGBTQ+ support organization for youth called ‘The Rainbow Network’. It’s based in San Sequoia.

Family/Background

• Sera has lived her whole life in San Sequoia. She’s a city girl through and through.

• Growing up in a foster care group home for girls, Sera never met her parents. Despite this, she remained a kind hearted ray of sunshine.

• Without a proper parental figure, Sera found solace in an elderly Latina woman named Angela, with whom she worked at a Mexican restaurant. Although Angela was too old to legally adopt, she took care of Sera as if she were her own daughter.

• Being a gay black teenage girl in the foster care system was incredibly challenging. Sera faced many hardships and lacked resources and support for children like her.

• By the time she aged out of the system at 18, Sera had already begun drafting ideas for The Rainbow Network (TRN) with a few close friends. Angela supported her through her first year of college, where Sera majored in political science, before sadly passing away.

• After graduating, Sera founded The Rainbow Network and has since dedicated herself to building it into a thriving support organization for LGBTQ+ youth. Over the years, she has worked hard to provide the resources and community that she and so many foster kids lacked during their upbringing.

Friends

• She’s been friends with Dami since their teenage years. Dami was one of the close friends that inspired her to start TRN.

Relationship

• Single

• She’s had her fair share of exes. But none of them ever really stick around long enough. Except for one… 👀

Hobbies

• Like Dami, Sera lives for music. She’s a passionate songwriter and musician.

• She loves cooking. And especially loves cooking for other people.

• Gaming

Random facts

• Her left leg is very slightly longer than her right.

• She’s allergic to shellfish

• She’s not the best at sports but she can never turn down a good challenge

Notes:

• 👀 = important plot points that will be or is addressed more in depth in the book

[sweetlittledaisy7]

I forgot to add this in. But thank you, everyone, especially to my followers who've been here since I started. Y'all feel like my online family, lol. I'm truly thrilled for this next chapter in my life. I know many might have been following me since high school, which is insane because I was like 15/16 then. Now I'm getting a masters degree, getting married, and living in an apartment with my future hubby. 🙌 I hope to continue this blog for years to come as a resource for you all. Especially adoptive parents. Raising an adopted kid isn't easy, and most sources miss the mark. I'm happy to help. It's rare to get an adoptees perspective.

[infoblogsbyps]

What You Need to Know About Admissions at Top Schools in Bangalore

If you’re a parent searching for schools that rank among the top schools in Bengaluru or looking for excellent schooling options near KR Puram, PSBB Millennium School Bangalore is a name that should be on your radar. Known for its emphasis on quality education and holistic development, the school provides an environment where students thrive academically and personally. Here’s everything you need to know about the admissions process, as well as why PSBB Millennium Bangalore is a preferred choice for parents across the city.

A Smooth and Transparent Admission Process

The admissions process at PSBB Millennium Bangalore is designed to be parent-friendly and straightforward. Whether you’re exploring options for preschool, primary, or higher grades, the school aims to make the journey as simple as possible.

Key Steps in the Admission Process

Enquiry and Application Form: Start by visiting the official website of PSBB Millennium Bangalore. You’ll find all the details about the school’s programs and facilities, along with an online application form. It’s always recommended to fill out this form early, as the school is a popular choice among parents.

Interaction and Assessment: Once the application is submitted, the school schedules a formal interaction with parents and students. For younger children, this interaction focuses on understanding the child’s personality and readiness for school. Older students may undergo an academic assessment to ensure a seamless transition into their new grade.

Confirmation of Admission: Following the interaction or assessment, parents are informed about the admission status. Once accepted, you’ll need to complete the documentation and confirm the seat for your child.

The entire process is structured to ensure transparency and efficiency, keeping parents well-informed at every step.

Why Parents Trust PSBB Millennium Bangalore

As you consider schooling options, it’s essential to understand what makes PSBB Millennium a standout choice. Here are some of the reasons why this school has earned a strong reputation:

1. A Legacy of Excellence

PSBB Millennium Bangalore belongs to the highly reputed PSBB group of schools, which has been a pioneer in education for decades. The school’s approach combines traditional values with modern teaching methodologies, ensuring students receive a balanced and enriching education.

2. Comprehensive Curriculum

The curriculum at PSBB Millennium is designed to prepare students for the demands of the modern world. From preschool to higher grades, the school focuses on developing critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. 3. Holistic Development Opportunities

Education at PSBB Millennium extends far beyond the classroom. The school offers a variety of co-curricular and extracurricular programs, from performing arts and sports to science clubs and community projects. These activities help students grow into well-rounded individuals.

4. Strategic Location

Located conveniently near KR Puram, PSBB Millennium Bangalore is easily accessible to families in East Bengaluru and surrounding areas. The school’s location makes it a practical choice for parents seeking quality education close to home.

What Makes the Curriculum Unique

PSBB Millennium Bangalore’s curriculum stands out for its blend of academics, co-curricular activities, and value-based education. Here’s a closer look at what it offers:

1. Focus on Core Academics

The school’s academic framework is rooted in strong foundational knowledge. Teachers adopt innovative methods to make learning engaging and effective. This approach ensures students excel in their studies and develop a lifelong love for learning.

2. Technology in the Classroom

Keeping pace with today’s digital world, PSBB Millennium integrates technology into its teaching. Smart classrooms and digital resources enhance the learning experience and help students stay ahead in an ever-evolving world.

3. Creative and Critical Thinking

The curriculum emphasizes problem-solving, creativity, and independent thinking. Through hands-on projects, interactive sessions, and collaborative activities, students are encouraged to explore and innovate.

4. Co-curricular Activities

From music and dance to drama and art, the school’s co-curricular programs allow students to explore their interests and talents. This holistic approach ensures they develop not just academically but also emotionally and socially.

Tips for Parents Considering Admissions

If you’re planning to apply to PSBB Millennium Bangalore, here are a few tips to help you prepare:

Start Early: Given the popularity of the school, it’s a good idea to begin the admission process early. Check the website regularly for updates on application deadlines.

Prepare Your Child: For interactions or assessments, ensure your child is relaxed and comfortable. This is especially important for younger kids who may be new to formal settings.

Visit the Campus: Whenever possible, schedule a visit to the school. Seeing the facilities and meeting the staff can help you make an informed decision.

Clarify Your Queries: Don’t hesitate to ask questions about the curriculum, teaching methods, or extracurricular programs. The school’s team is approachable and happy to address any concerns.

Why PSBB Millennium Is a Great Choice for Families Near KR Puram

For parents living in or around KR Puram, the location of PSBB Millennium Bangalore is an added advantage. Not only does it save commuting time, but it also provides access to one of the top schools in Bengaluru within a convenient distance. This combination of accessibility and quality makes the school a practical and preferred choice for many families.

Conclusion

Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your child. With its strong academic foundation and emphasis on holistic development, PSBB Millennium Bangalore stands out as a top contender. Whether you’re seeking the best schools near KR Puram or aiming for a school that fosters excellence in every aspect, PSBB Millennium has much to offer.

Start your journey today by exploring their website and beginning the application process. With PSBB Millennium Bangalore, you’re not just choosing a school — you’re investing in your child’s future.

[shammyb]

They say mercrury is in retrograde. I feel it whether or not it means anything. Life has been incredibly difficult these last few months. My parents came into town in september and that was lovely. Right before that I had started meditating regularly which was giving my mind freedom ad peace. Not long after however, I've been dealing with gossip and harassment/abuse of power from my manager and it's been an ongoing thourough investigation at this point. I've also been dealing with a difficult unsatisfying relationship with my partner whom ive been living with for a little under a year. It's been basically sex-less for 4-5 months---with the occasional short f*ck. Our schedules have been opposite mostly, and the truth of our sexualities being incompatible has been showing. I've felt neglected when it comes to receiving pleasure, and it really sucks. Especially when sex is a strong love language of mine. That, along with wanting to leave Portland so I can build a better life economically and be closer to my parents who are across the country.....it's all a lot and it's all just sad. Especially since we have a cat who loves me, and my partner has a kid who I love. After practicing polyamory for a good 8 years, I have decided a more traditional mogomous relationship is something I'm starting to want. That is more clear to me being 121 days sober. My partner also is not sober and doesn't want to be. Weve been together for a little over 4 years total with a year off in between. Our values are different. I'm a lot more spiritual and want to grow in life. I can't do that much in this city. They're stuck by custody contract in portland. Being almost 31, dealing with a flurry of chronic health issues, I'm realizing my ability to reproduce has a time limit, and it's getting closer and closer to that time each day. I never wanted kids in the past, but I know i've always been great with kids and when i envision my future, a more satisfactory and heart filled future has children of my own in it, whether they be adopted or birthed. One or two. I don't see kids with this partner in my future though. And it's sad. At my current state, I lack resources to move out, unless I were to room with complete strangers. I'm saving saving saving. And first thing I'm saving for is a car, as I've been without one for almost two years now.

There are resources where my parents live, but that is all the way in Tennessee. It's so damn far. I've accumulated things from living on my own. I'm working on letting go of attachment to them, but it's challenging. There is so much grief in me. Grief for the loss of friendships and family, due to deaths, and my own choices made when i was in a state of survival mode during my time stripping.

Stripping took years from me. It reinforced my eating disorder, and disordered ways of being in general. I was raped once, and sexually assaulted basically every shift, but....I had money. Lots of it. Then I decided I needed to get out, and it went quick. I'm a working class citizen again. I am certified to teach yoga, but there's not really any market that feels worth it in my soul. Id have to teach online and work at a lot of places for the same wage I make now, and put my body though a lot.

Inflation is through the roof. It's hard right now. I'm surviving right now, and trying my best to get myself places.

Sobriety has left me feeling lonely-----but i am at least grateful to have community at my climbing gym. I crave more intimacy. Raw, honest, passionate intimacy. I'll get there. I've been told I'm a fighter and I'm strong. I have been crying a lot lately. Nothing is permanent. I've been through hell. I'll probably go through more. But I will get through it, and I'm grateful to have the parents I have. That's all for now. I haven't journaled in a while. Sometimes it's on paper, today it felt more right to do it here. Sending love and strength to all who need it today <3 Nameste

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

Hello! I love your blog! Thank you so much for all the work you do finding information.

I was wondering if you have any information on adopting as an autistic parent? I strongly believe I have autism and I’m looking into getting a diagnosis but I really want to adopt in the future and I’ve heard having an autism diagnosis can make it a lot more difficult. However I’ve heard from other places that that’s a myth and it doesn’t actually matter. None of this seemed to come from reliable sources. Most of what I’ve found in my own research seems to be based on a lot of assumptions and I can’t find anyone online talking about it from personal or professional experience. Do you know of any more reliable resources for this? Thanks!

Hi there,

I personally do not plan on having or adopting any children, but I did some looking around and found a potentially helpful resource. It talks about the rights adoptive or foster parent with a disability:

Agencies can't stop you from adopting or fostering just because you have a disability.

You are allowed to use programs and services that other people in your situation can use.

Agencies are supposed to change rules and programs if you need help.

You are allowed to get help with communication.

Agencies are supposed to let you know about their programs in ways you can understand. Some kinds of help include sign language interpreters, Braille, and screen readers.

People with disabilities should be able to get in and out of most agency buildings. New buildings must be totally accessible.

I will leave the source below. It’s a pdf file that I think will help.

The Rights of People with Disabilities Who Want to Adopt

Here is a link to a subreddit where someone asks if they can adopt if they’re autistic:

r/Adoption

I’m also going to tag @krisrisk since they are a parent and can possibly provide more help than I can.

I hope you found these sources helpful. Thank you for the inbox. I hope you have a wonderful day/night. ���️

[ae-azile]

Going to try and get chapter 18 of Progression out by tomorrow. Writing was slow this week and I only have 6k of what will probably be at least a 10k chapter.

I work with Deaf + other diagnoses clients, most of whom have some level of language deprivation as a main setback/trigger/trauma, and several who have behaviors stemming from abuse, neglect, unstable home lives/family units, adoption and the complexities that come with it, etc. It's been a ROUGH week. I have been working with the Deaf community for six years now. While I am almost fluent in ASL, it can be even more draining to debrief in a second language about extremely aggressive behaviors and big feelings with clients who did not have access to an understandable language during their early years.

That's probably why I give Namphueng previous knowledge of sign language in the stories I feature her in. People don't understand how hurtful language deprivation is psychologically and developmentally. There are parents who clearly love their Deaf children, but make very little effort to learn sign. They get upset and frustrated when aggressive behaviors develop, but aggression is a form of communication. Not a healthy form, but sometimes that is all there is when you feel unheard.

And I guess that's why I always make sure Namphueng (who is not deaf, but has had her oral speech impacted by trauma and who knows what else) is surrounded by people willing to learn sign, along with one or more proficient signers. The trauma that develops from people excluding you from conversations by not making them accessible, refusing to learn a language you both can understand, etc is more immense than people realize. Unfortunately, the way I approach it in this fic reflects only a small minority of families.

Anyway, that was my strange hybrid fanfic/real life update. Maybe it will provide some insight on why I approach Namphueng's situation the way I do, or at least why my update might be a little late. Or maybe it will encourage people to learn sign language!

Fun fact = an American signer and a Thai signer having a voice off conversation would understand each other a lot better than an American signer and a British signer. Sign Languages across the world vary greatly, but some countries on opposite parts of the world can match more closely than countries that primarily use the same spoken language. This often boils down to which signed languages develop first, and who influences who (French sign and grammar, Martha's Vineyard signs, and various signs from different villages primarily influenced ASL, modern Thai Sign has been influenced by their older indigenous sign and ASL, and other countries may borrow from British Sign or from other areas of the world). So while learning sign language is beneficial, learning about Deaf culture on a local and international level is neat too. I suggest people check out classes, local groups/meet-ups, and research online resources if you have any interest at all. It can be more useful than you realize. 🙂

[cyberneticatoms]

no way is that CHARLIE BENNETT..they’re a 30 year-old HUMAN notoriously known for being MOODY & CAREFREE but there are some people who have seen them being HUMBLE & POLITE. if you ask me, they remind me a lot of feeling the beat of the music, various medications strewn over the bathroom counter, and grinning through the pain, but that could just be because they’re considered the DETERMINATOR around town. just keep an eye on them  &  see if their true colors shine through..

↳ 𝚀𝚄𝙸𝙲𝙺 𝙵𝙰𝙲𝚃𝚂

NAME: Charles Simon Bennett NICKNAMES: Charlie, Chuck (Ginny only) DATE OF BIRTH: June 3rd (30) HEIGHT: 5'10 AFFILIATION: Citizen Uprising OCCUPATION: Veterinarian at DFW Zoo FACECLAIM: Sean Berdy

↳ 𝙱𝙰𝙲𝙺𝙶𝚁𝙾𝚄𝙽𝙳

❖ Charles Bennett, or Charlie to most people, was born deaf. It took until he about 1 for his birth parents to figure it out, add in being from the lower district and doctor visits were less than frequent. ❖ It wouldn't be long after his 2nd birthday that both his birth parents would pass away. It wasn't anything overly dramatic, overworked and constantly falling ill. WIth no one else able to take him, he was adopted by his godparents the Bennetts and gained an older sister named Sam. ❖ It was after this that his parents realized what the cause of so many illnesses for Charlie and his birth parents was. Joining a class action lawsuit against Epsilon Labs after the three had been prescribed faulty medication. ❖ The payout was almost insulting, especially after the lawyers took their cut and it was split between the remaining parties. For the most part Charlie wasn't aware of much of this, between Sam and his parents they did their best to give him as normal a life as possible. ❖ Going to school in the lower district was a struggle, there weren't many resources for a deaf student. As much as he didn't want to, he relied on his friends to help him fill in any gaps he missed during classes. ❖ As much as he would have loved to go straight to vet school, he didn't have the grades to qualify for a scholarship like his sister had. Instead he split his time between working at the DFW Zoo as a janitor and taking his basics core classes online. ❖ Originally he got along well with his sister's boyfriend, Taurus. Even siding with him when he and Sam started arguing, at least until Ginny was brought into the middle of things. ❖ Once he saw how far he was willing to go, he apologized to Sam though things are still a bit tense. Still an active part of Citizen Uprising as well as bringing Ginny to meetings. ❖ He keeps his apartment open to his niece for whenever she and Sam are butting heads. Other than that he mostly focuses on his actual career, having finished veterinary school and working full time at the zoo now.

↳ 𝙼𝙸𝚂𝙲

• Due to the faulty medication Charlie ended up with chronic fatigue and multiple sclerosis. His prognosis wasn't great at first, but with a combination of physical therapy and later medication his relapses have been further and further apart.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Andrew Reiner

Published: Jun 6, 2024

For a long time, the internet and social media have been bloated with memes, even articles, that denigrate men and most forms of traditional masculinity. Many of the people behind these posts insist that they are simply snarky barbs aimed at people with the most “privilege” who can’t take a joke.

If there was ever any doubt about the veracity of or honesty behind such a statement, a growing trend appears to pull back the veil.

Recently, the online magazine Slate ran an eye-opening story revealing that many young couples are using in vitro fertilization to ensure they conceive daughters instead of sons. In other countries, IVF is legal only as a screening measure to detect the likelihood for genetic diseases. Not in the U.S., where IVF clinics have mushroomed in number over the past two decades because prospective parents want freedom of choice.  

In one American study, white parents picked a female embryo 70 percent of the time. A 2010 study showed that American adoptive parents were 30 percent more likely to prefer girls than boys, and were willing to pay an additional $16,000 to ensure they got a girl. 

One 31-year-old woman interviewed for that piece, who works in human resources (an industry dedicated to equity and parity) said, “When I think about having a child that’s a boy, it’s almost a repulsion, like, Oh my God, no.”

Such disturbing sentiments are widespread in the U.S. and are part of a growing trend in Western cultures — popularly called Gender Disappointment. An Australian psychologist who specializes in antenatal and postnatal care conducted a Facebook survey and found that Gender Disappointment is most common in women, who unabashedly want daughters, not sons. One woman posted on a mothers’ chat board that the “vast majority” of women on “every social media (Facebook, Instagram) site or general website (Netmums, Mumsnet, Reddit)” voice this gender bias. “There are websites like ingender and genderdreaming just dedicated to Gender disappointment…some of them are straight out Boy bashing or anti boy posts.”

This invites the question: What exactly is it about having boys that seems so repellent? Many of the women in the Slate article, even mothers of boys, pointed to that sweeping, damning and vague label “toxic masculinity.” They spoke to girls’ “limitless potential” versus that of boys. Girls move out of the house earlier, achieve greater academic success, are more likely to attend and graduate from college, find jobs more readily than male peers and have higher emotional IQ.

One woman insisted that boys are “less caring toward their parents.” This woman craves a ‘“close friendship”’ with her future child that ‘“seemed possible only with a female child.”’  

It isn’t just women. Another interviewee echoed the sentiments of many younger men when she said her husband values characteristics ‘“more [stereotypically] associated with girls,”’ such as “empathy, social skills, and kindness.”

This invites the question: If these skills are so important — and they are, as schools, workplaces and relationships increasingly demand them — why can’t we simply teach them to boys?  

Such gender bias is emblematic of the selective empathy trend in which people proffer tolerance, compassion and context only for those they deem worthy. Though unintentional, this was what Rachel, who works in spaces that empower girls and women, was speaking to after reading my book.

“I had no idea so many men struggle deep down and have these anguished inner lives,” she said. “Many of us have this belief that men’s privilege insulates them from the struggles the rest of us have.”

I absolutely appreciated her sincerity and thoughtful admission. And the lack of empathy that belies many girls’ and women’s perception of boys and men is problematic. It’s maladaptive and robs males — one-half of the population — of their humanity and very real struggles.

Part of the reason this dearth of empathy exists is that too many men have abdicated their responsibilities. The men who are wounded by this brand of toxic messaging don’t speak up because they are afraid of the backlash, especially of being “canceled” or widely attacked on social media. They fear being labeled (unfairly) as extremist “Men’s Rights” apologists.

And the men who do speak up rarely do so in a productive way. Too often they shrug and pretend not to care, and instead take their grievances to the online “manosphere’s” dark corners, where they exact revenge among a receptive, misogynistic audience.   

It’s also time that women did some soul searching — that they stop and reconsider their prevailing, limiting perceptions about men and masculinity. Their own personal experiences with men don’t apply across the board, and such wanton attacks on and wholesale dismissal of boys and men only perpetuate and normalize a reactivity that’s uncritical and self-pitying.

A more productive social media post might feature a montage of boys and men with this caption: “Yes, you need to level up…you also deserve empathy and compassion along the way.” It’s not catchy, but it moves the conversation forward in a way we need it to go.