As a college student, I worked as a mentor, and that got me involved in working with young people long before I became a foster parent. Vanessa Diffenbaugh collegefosterinvolve Change image and share on social
I don't think there is anything magical about the language of flowers in real life or in my book. Vanessa Diffenbaugh bookflowerlanguage Change image and share on social
We are more and more into technology. Everything is texting, and everything is instant. Flowers are completely impractical as a method of communication when you could just send a text. Vanessa Diffenbaugh communicationcompletelyflower Change image and share on social
I am not only the person who wrote and sold a novel while raising a houseful of biological and foster children; I am also the person who wrote a horrific young adult novel that never sold and gave up on a foster child I couldn't handle - an experience that still haunts me. Vanessa Diffenbaugh adultbiologicalchild share on social
There's a certain freedom in writing when you don't know if you'll ever have an audience. Vanessa Diffenbaugh audiencefreedomwill Change image and share on social
I've always loved the language of flowers. I discovered Kate Greenaway's 'Language of Flowers' in a used bookstore when I was 16 and couldn't believe it was such a well-kept secret. How could something so beautiful and romantic be virtually unknown? Vanessa Diffenbaugh beautifulbookstorediscover share on social
My husband was working as principal of an urban transformation high school - the kind of public charter school determined to do whatever it takes to give its mostly minority, low-income student body the education they need and deserve to be successful in life. Vanessa Diffenbaugh bodycharterdeserve share on social
We have been trained to broadcast our successes and hide our failures. But the truth is this: our failures humanise us, and they connect us to one another. Vanessa Diffenbaugh broadcastconnectfailure Change image and share on social
My husband and I vowed that after we married and settled down, we would become foster parents - a vow we kept and one that has enriched our lives greatly. Vanessa Diffenbaugh enrichfostergreatly Change image and share on social
Every second I have spare, I'm with my kids. Vanessa Diffenbaugh kidspare Change image and share on social
