My Cup Runneth Over

“Never start a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel.”

I don’t think that way, ink is hella expensive! I just really like that quote and moreover, I have to buy ink by the barrel. I’m very specific in how I use that ink. Again, hella expensive.

That’s kind of how you need to approach this thing each month. What’s worthy of the ink?

It was easy five or six years ago. Whoever sent me an article was pretty much guaranteed a spot in the magazine. I miss the simplicity of those days. (Settle down, no rant about how tough life is for me now that so many people know about and subscribe to the magazine is coming.) Something clicked around halfway through that first year. Suddenly folks from all over were sending me great articles to print. Scholars, social workers, judges and even a few New York Times Bestselling authors found their way into the pages of Foster Focus. Now I have a stockpile of articles to choose from each month.

After the late issue debate of last month (last week?) I thought this month I’d talk about some of the great problems I have. In recent months, call it burnt out, call it exhaustion, hell, call it general crankiness, I’ve been whining a lot more than I once did. That ends now. Doesn’t suit me. Much like bragging, it tastes funny in my mouth.

Let’s address the bounty of material I get to work with these days. When we began this journey, some six years ago (can you believe that?!) it was slim pickings. I wrote a lot of the content that first year…sorry about that. I wrote out of necessity then. I write nowadays only when I have something to say or something I want looked at from my unique, down the middle perspective. With the exception of last month’s deportation article, I leave the more intense or sensitive stories to more seasoned, talented writers. Of course, the best stories come from those who lived it or those in the field. This is a luxury that I enjoy, not a luxury mainstream media can claim. If you’ve lived through care, I’m your first stop if you want to tell the world about it.

This is what sets Foster Focus apart from any other foster care coverage. It’s what I set out to do; first-hand accounts. I wanted to give foster care folks and those who lived through it, a platform where they could tell their stories, in their own words. That last part is pretty important. I try to edit very little when I receive an article from the first-person perspective. When I must, I can write with a touch of eloquence. There are times when that is appropriate. There are times when a conversational tone is best, this column is an example of that. I don’t feel the need to put on airs in this column. This column is you and I sitting down and chopping it up over coffee or Pepsi in my case. We’re just chatting about what it’s like to run a magazine with a background like mine. That’s all. But there are times when you need to FEEL what the writer’s is trying to get across to you. So, in those cases, I leave the language the way the writer wrote it. If the rush a phrase, I’ll fix it. If they get tongue tied in their wording, I’ll clean it up. If they need a comma, I’ll throw one in. But I leave the message, the feeling and the emotions of it all alone. I won’t touch it. It’s better that way.

I’ve some tremendous accounts of former foster kids, foster parents, social workers and the like walk through the pages of this publication. I couldn’t be prouder of the content of this magazine. And this month is no exception.

“Did he just use a page in his magazine to brag on his writers?” Yeah, I did. It gets worse! In a few months, I’m going to take time to highlight some of the writers who make this magazine go. I’m going to interview them and share those conversations with you. It’ll be less braggy, more informative.

Because you had to wait for the March issue, I think I’ll just let you dig into this issue. There’s a great article on foster parent retention from foster parent and writer extraordinaire, Dr. John DeGarmo. A couple of the FosterClubbers check in. A tale of a family forming from Deveraux. A look at the evolution of intensive treatment foster care in Minnesota and a great article about the need for kids to be outside. And the great columns…you don’t have to include this column in that grouping.

Oh yeah, Foster Care Month is upon us. Best wishes for a successful month!