Tonight is the first night of Chanukah. My kids are eagerly awaiting sundown so we can sit around the table to light the candles and of course open presents. When I was a kid, I didn’t like sharing the fact that we were Jewish. In the small town where I grew up, we were one…
Category Archives: Advocacy
Addressing “The Look”
We’ve all experienced “the look” from folks whose mothers apparently didn’t teach them it’s not polite to stare. Sometimes it really bothers me. Sometimes not. Recently, I had the opportunity to unofficially analyze the look and figure out the difference…. for me! I spent a day at the Bronx Zoo with my 3 beautiful children —…
Tube Wars
For the past 20 years my daughter Melissa has used a NG tube as her primary method of feeding. There has always been much controversy about the use of NG vs. G-Tubes. My story offers our experiences.
Another Blogger Writing About Her Kids with Down Syndrome
Oh no, not another mom blogger of a child with Down syndrome! Yes, there are lots of us out here in the blogosphere tapping away, sharing our perspective – the good, the bad, and sometimes the ugly — each with a unique story to tell. But, like the National Down Syndrome Society’s “We Are More Alike…
Staring
I try to teach my kids to be curious, but not to stare. To be kind, but not condescending. To be honest, but reserved. Last weekend, we made a trip to the outlet malls about an hour away from our home. The boys were both in desperate need of soccer shoes. Isaiah was in even…
The Line?
Is there a magic line? A line between being an advocate and going too far? We know our child’s abilities. We know how they talk, what they feel, and what they need almost before they do. We can tell if they are getting sick by the color of their skin, or if they’re happy the…
Time Discovers Truth
Before I became a mom, I did everything at high speed. My long legs galloped through airports, trade shows, malls, corporate hallways- purposefully propelling toward my destination. I assessed people too quickly, rushed through conversations, and often missed the simple beauty of everyday life. Fast forward years later, when my second daughter Zoe was 5-…
To Write Love on Her Arms Day
According to the World Health Organization, depression is one of the leading causes of disability, with approximately 121 million people suffering with depression worldwide. The National Institute of Mental Health states that approximately 18 million people suffer from depression in America alone. Depression does not discriminate across age, race, gender, or class. Among teenagers it…
You Don’t Need to Feel Sorry For Us
One things that saddens me about having kids with special needs is when folks tell you that they are “sorry” your children are disabled. I don’t mean to be ungrateful! I appreciate their concern, I really do. It’s just that I don’t consider my children a burden (Sure, they are HEAVY. They ARE finally gaining…
A Note from the Musician Mommy
Working in the special education field can be challenging at times, but I have never looked at it that way. And it’s no wonder why: I grew up in a household with a child who required special education. Except, her education didn’t seem weird or outcast-like. It totally made sense. I guess it was because…