My Boys & their typically developing classmates during their first week at school. Yes, I am an inclusionist! I want my children to be included in every aspect of life just the way any other child or person would be/should be included. I want my children to play, to work and to be educated side-by-side…
Author Archives: Maggie
Public- or Home-School? That’s the Question!
Kindergarten Graduation You might have read that we played hooky from Summer School this year. As a result of that post, a few parents of children with special needs have congratulated me on my first–but perhaps not last–foray into home schooling. I’ve got mixed feelings about this… See, I’ve always been a proponent of the public school system……
Playin’ Hooky From Summer School
Four weeks into Summer school — aka: Extended School Year (ESY) — and I’ve only brought The Boys in for 2 1/2 days. Bad Mama? OR, Bad Mama! Our contained class experience this past year included My Boys’ adopting some negative behaviors from a few of their peers with special needs. As such, I’ve been working this…
Three Little Fishies in an Itty Bitty Pool
104 degrees! Luckily, I have a nice, little, hard-walled backyard pool — 15′ round by 3 1/2′ deep — that we put up and take down every year. And every year, Sarge wants to set it up at the curb instead of in our yard. He hates our little pool! He wants a BIG, semi-in-ground pool. Yeah, me…
Time to Reboot!
I’ve been MIA due to a viral infection. Thankfully, not my kids or me. This time, it was Dell, my darling laptop! Timing is NEVER good for this sort of thing. I was in the process of redesigning The Boys’ discreet trial curriculum, writing out my blue-sky-scenario for our encore performance of kindergarten and investigating the pros…
Solidarity & Solutions in The Down Syndrome Community
What app are you using to teach your child to read? How are you addressing aberrant behaviors? What math curriculum are they using at school? How did you get her to _____ (fill in the blank)? Can I see your ABA discreet trial program for _____? How did you get that into your IEP? Is there…
MAY 6 SEMINAR: Meeting the Educational Needs of Children with Down Syndrome
REGISTER NOW! MEET AND DISCUSS EDUCATIONAL ISSUES AND BEST PRACTICES WITH OTHER LOCAL MOTHERS OF CHILDREN WITH DOWN SYNDROME! 1-day Seminar THIS Friday, May 6 @ Queens College, Flushing, NY Meeting the Educational Needs of Children with Down Syndrome Amazing Opportunity to see Dr. Sue Buckley, Researcher with Down Syndrome Education International, present the best practices…
A Typical Growing Up Moment?
Happy belated Passover & Happy Easter to those who celebrate these beautiful traditions. I wish you all peace in the world, in your homes and in your hearts! This isn’t just another post about potty-training, per se. It’s an OMG they’re growing up post about the challenges of being potty-trained-ISH and independent toileting. Last Thursday,…
Where’s The ME-time?
Am I the only one who can’t seem to find any time to take care of me in my life? OMG, for all the child-rearing and special needs advocating and work I’m doing, there doesn’t seem to be a moment left for me! I’m not talking about luxuries like taking a bubble bath, a night out…
The Heartache of Wanting (and Waiting)
There are lots of skills that a parent enthusiastically awaits mastery of by her precious children. Sleeping through the night, self-feeding, sleeping in their own bed and potty training are just a few of the hard-won battles, in my experience. A little bit of impatience is not uncommon and often can be a catalyst to helping our…