Since this is my first post on the brand new 5 Minutes for Special Needs site, I thought I’d take this opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Melinda; I’m thirty *cough, cough* years old, and I’m a wife, mother of two, college student, blogger, and flamenco dancer. Originally from New York City, I now reside in my husband’s hometown in Central Florida. Talk about culture shock! I went from living in the urban jungle, waking up to the sounds of a loud and bustling metropolis, to suddenly finding myself surrounded by strawberry farms, horses and pickup trucks. My family is fortunate in that we live in an area where we get to sample everything both urban and rural living have to offer…oh, and Mickey Mouse isn’t too far away either.
Eight years ago, my husband and I realized that something about our daughter was different. Being first time parents, we weren’t quite sure what was happening or why, but we noticed our daughter couldn’t talk, kept primarily to herself, didn’t make eye contact, and was engaging in repetitive behaviors that we hadn’t observed in other kids her age. By her third birthday, she was receiving speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. At our urging we were finally referred to a developmental pediatrician and a neurologist, who concluded that our daughter has autism.
Since getting the diagnosis, we’ve researched ways we can help our daughter and have been very fortunate in that the help we’ve received from teachers, therapists, family, and friends has been truly outstanding. Our daughter is now thriving. She is about to enter the fifth grade, for the first time in a general education setting; she is active in a performing arts group; she loves playing the piano; and she is a terrific, supportive big sister to her little brother. We have our challenging days (don’t we all?), but we are grateful for every moment our family has together.
Blogging has been a wonderful way to share some of my experiences with autism with other families dealing with some of the same issues. I started my blog in 2006, and I’m still blown away by how effective using the internet has been in connecting with people who share common experiences.
I’ll be posting on this site twice a week. On Mondays, the focus will be on gluten and casein-free cooking. Changing our diet was one thing that was extremely helpful to our daughter, and finding new ways to cook some of our old favorites has become one of my passions. Cooking when you’re dealing with food allergies or intolerances doesn’t have to be boring, and it doesn’t have to be about deprivation! On Thursdays, I’ll be writing general posts—and as you might have guessed, the theme of those posts will change every week.
I am always eager to hear from readers, so send your questions or comments to [email protected] or visit me at www.gfcfmama.blogspot.com.