When I was a little girl, I used to love making stuff—artwork, paintings, costumes, popsicle-stick birdhouses, pottery, you name it. Now, when I look at Max struggling to grasp a bulb crayon or thick paintbrush, I sometimes flash back to my own childhood and I get bummed that he is missing out. Then I snap…
Category Archives: Cerebral Palsy
Please, please, please have a good time. Please?
This weekend, we went to Chuck E. Cheesiest Place Ever. The kids saw a commercial for it and begged to go, and because Max managed to say some semblance of “Chuck E. Cheese” and that was worth celebrating, we went. I so wanted him to have a good time. The thing is, though, it’s pretty…
Those moments when I lose my patience
Yeah, he’s cute. But he sure can try my patience. Before I had Max, I wasn’t known for my patience, let me just say. I am the sort of person who wants things done fast, and wants them done well. Wants that do not exactly go well with having a kid with special needs. I…
Mommy brain
I don’t know about you, but I’ve gotten a lot more forgetful since having kids. I assume it has something to do with all the information crammed in there. My brain is jam-packed with medical terms and therapy info and doctors’ names and phone numbers and developmental blah blah and you name it. Not to…
Feeding highs and woes
This is Max feeding himself. It is an awesome sight—for so many years, we had to spoon feed him because he lacked the hand coordination to do it himself. Max still likes it when we do it for him. But he adores sweet potatoes, and he was gung-ho to down a bowlful by himself. Back…
How the kids make me laugh
My four-year-old, Sabrina, is amusing to listen to pretty much at all times. She’s always making observations; having her around is sort of like having running commentary on your life from a sportscaster. “Mommy, why do you drink coffee? Does it taste as good as chocolate milk?” “Mommy, I’m not putting on my socks because…
Our kids need playdates!
Yesterday, we had a birthday party for Max, who’s turning seven. I invited all of the students in his class and most of them came. Max’s glee was out of control. He squealed the second he saw one of the kids coming up the walkway, and he didn’t stop the entire party. We hired a clown…
Do you take good care of your health?
I am still shocked and saddened by the news that Anissa Mayhew, one of the writers here, suffered a stroke. I’ve been sending thoughts and prayers her way. It’s gotten me thinking about my own health, I have to say. I spend so much time caring for Max (who had a stroke at birth) that…
Thing # 1,387,902 I have to do for my son
Ok, not really—it only feels that way. I went to visit Max’s school on Friday to discuss his Dynavox with his speech therapist. My husband and I find it really hard to navigate, and Max isn’t so hot to use it on weekends, either. (At school, he does fine navigating the “classroom” category.) We’re going…
Even more special needs Mommy confessions
• I get excited when Max feeds himself. Then I try to get my husband to clean up the mess. • There’s a family with four kids who lives down the block. Sometimes, when I’m around their kids I think, “Wow, they got four healthy kids….” • I dread progress reports. I mean, yes, it’s…