normal: adjective. conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural. In the Special World we constantly hear about “normal” benchmarks and “typically” developing children. Our children are often measured against the “normals” to get an idea or a glimpse into just how delayed they really are. I know the intent…
Category Archives: Autism Spectrum
Can I Help You?
In the middle of another hectic week we finally had a chance to hang out after school and play on the playground. This is one of my few opportunities to see how my daughter is navigating through the social challenge that the asphalt schoolyard can bring to a kid on the autism spectrum. After a…
Unexpected Snow Days Require An Arsenal
Today is a snow day. I remember snow days fondly as days when the world was wide open. It was a free day to catch up and do whatever my childish heart desired; reading, sledding, throwing snowballs endlessly which would, for me, end up in freezing fingers needing swirls of mildly warm water to run…
I was desperate for sleep
Define Sleep: A natural periodic state of rest for the mind and body, in which the eyes usually close and consciousness is completely or partially lost, so that there is a decrease in bodily movement and responsiveness to external stimuli. During sleep the brain in humans and other mammals undergoes a characteristic cycle of brain-wave…
He’s a Little Runaway
Regardless of the fact that the title of this post conjures up images of bad eighties Bon Jovi music, Ian is a little runaway. He’s an eloper. He tends to “wander off”. But only at home. Ian has never, ever been content being boxed into one space for too long. He would leave his room…
Where’s the Line?
I realize I’ve been writing here for several weeks now without really introducing myself or my daughter. I haven’t written much about her specific challenges or my responses to them. I guess I expected all of this to come out more naturally, but there’s a hang up — which I’ll explain shortly. Our daughter is…
She Is Their Best Friend
She is their best friend. I see it in their faces, hear it in their play, watch it in the way they fight over the smallest piece of junk, determined that their need to treasure this particular item is deeper than the other. Then, just as easily, one gives in. One notices the tears of…
Ian’s No-Good, Terrible Week
It was a long weekend anyway and we braced ourselves for it. Then we had super-duper crappy weather on Tuesday, when the kids were supposed to go back to school. Which meant that the two-hour delay turned into a day off. Drat. (I said more choice words, but this is a family-friendly site, so I…
Celebrate One Thing
I guess I struck a nerve last week. I’m not the only “super-mom” out there who is not feeling so super. A week of perspective seeking has helped. Getting a couple of nagging projects off my plate has helped. Remembering to not write at the end of the day will probably help, too. I felt…
Among Construction, Kids Can Surprise Us
Since the day we moved into our home, 3 years ago, I’ve developed a love hate with the basement. I love it because it’s open, bright and enjoyable for a basement. Hate, because…well, it’s a basement and there was an undetermined scent that I would get whiffs of, that no one else seemed to get,…