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…
Category Archives: PDD
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…
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…
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,…
Full Plate
I am tired. There’s no way around it. I’m running on fumes, and staring down another day where I need a full tank. What to do? Short term: suck it up, push on, just do it. Long term: not sure. Seriously. Every week I make a list of what (ideally) needs to happen. I plan…
Big Sister
Three years ago today my twins entered the world in a flurry of activity that was the perfect climax of a tumultuous pregnancy. I left our home the day before Thanksgiving for a check up with the OB. I told my daughter I was going to the doctor and that I would be home soon….
It’s a Puzzle…
My kids each received a jigsaw puzzle as one of their Christmas gifts. I gave the littles a couple of “preschool” puzzles – the ones with a couple of dozen pieces. The oldest can now do these with ease and I didn’t see many options in between those and the 100 piece jigsaw I got…
Seasonal Parenting
As I am typing this Winter Solstice is winding down and I am rejoicing, not in the pagan holiday sense, but in the “Hooray! Days will start getting longer again,” sense. I have been considering the “seasons” that our family goes through each year. Of course we tread through the normal calendar with everyone else,…