Author Archives: Lee

I am the father of a 22 year old daughter with a rare metabolic disorder called Propionic Acidemia. I hope to provide a "fathers view" of special needs parenting and maybe engage and encourage other men who face a similar challenges with their special needs child. Thanks for following me.

The Gift of Life is Not Free

Modern medicine offers the gift of life. Babies with birth defects are saved. Improved treatment for chronic illness adds years to life expectancy. And while we celebrate these advancements, we often lose sight of the cost that is incurred to support these individuals in our society. The gift of life is not free.

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For Better or Worse

We all recite these wedding vows, but rarely do we get a chance to actually live them out. On this special wedding anniversary, I reflect on that day 25 years ago when I committed my life to my one true love!

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Teachable Moments

Discipline is the least favorite part of parenting. And for special needs parents it can be especially challenging. Yet without established boundaries, even disabled children will become progressively more difficult and struggle to fit into society. An approach I use is to seize the opportunity presented by “teachable moments”

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On Vacation This Week

I wish that could report to you that I’m laying on this beach sipping a cool alcoholic beverage and thinking about all my daily struggles that I left at home. But in truth …

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Lessen the Burden

As a special needs parent, we realize that one day we will be gone. More often than not, siblings of our special needs kids are called upon to assume a caretaker role. What can we do today to lessen the burden on them?

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You Don’t Know That

Imparting parental wisdom to a child is difficult, but offering advice to those with special needs can be challenging. Using your life experiences, you advise them about possible mistakes. But in their world of absolutes, the response you get from them could be something like … YOU DON’T KNOW THAT.

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Starry Night Prom

One local high school has spent the last decade hosting a gala for people with disabilities. A tremendous gift of love from a student body whose only goal is the make sure that their guests have a night they will long remember. The Starry Night prom.

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Why Me?

As a parent of a special needs child, we have all asked the question … why me? But rather than focus on the negative, what if we turned this into an opportunity to grow? What if you believed, as I do, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!”

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The Cab Ride

Today I offer something a little different — THE CAB RIDE is a story that I read a few years ago that makes me search for those special opportunities where I might do something that improves the life of just one person.

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Circle of Friends

As a parent of a special needs child, we often befriend other parents who are walking a similar life path. Friendship among parents can bring great benefits. But pitfalls lurk below the radar. Today I share what we have learned about our circle of friends.

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