You have to really prove yourself to young people, and if your answer is clear and consistent and loving - even if it's angry and disappointed - what's important is that you're being real and honest and not going anywhere. Vanessa Diffenbaugh angryanswerclear share on social
I never really considered writing something that was nonfiction. Vanessa Diffenbaugh considernonfictionwrite Change image and share on social
I was a screenwriting and studio art major in college, so even though I don't have any training as a floral designer, I have a very particular visual aesthetic. Vanessa Diffenbaugh aestheticartcollege Change image and share on social
The problem is foster youth don't really have this network that other kids have. Vanessa Diffenbaugh fosterkidnetwork Change image and share on social
My husband and I have been involved with foster youth since our early 20s. Right out of college and not yet married, we spent weekends mentoring a family of young girls. Vanessa Diffenbaugh 20scollegeearly Change image and share on social
The names of common flowers change from decade to decade, so I spent a lot of time with old outdated dictionaries, with awful flower names like 'mouse-eared chickweed.' Vanessa Diffenbaugh awfulchangechickweed Change image and share on social
Writing has always been an interest of mine, and 'The Language of Flowers' combined my experience with foster care with something I've always wanted to do. Vanessa Diffenbaugh carecombineexperience Change image and share on social
I traveled a full two years with 'Language of Flowers.' Vanessa Diffenbaugh flowerfulllanguage Change image and share on social
We were pressured to accept kids we were not qualified to handle. And we do that to people all the time, which is why we don't have enough foster parents. Vanessa Diffenbaugh acceptfosterhandle Change image and share on social
I have spent a lot of time with foster children over the years - kids for whom I have not necessarily acted as a foster parent. Vanessa Diffenbaugh actchildfoster Change image and share on social