Yesterday was a Labor Day my family won’t soon forget. It was the first weekend (and holiday) since one of our daughters was admitted to a residential treatment facility for mood and developmental issues. Sure, we did the usual Labor Day things: played games, bar-b-qued hot dogs and spent time with extended family. But it…
Category Archives: Mental Health
When I Discovered I Was Part of The Problem
Ours isn’t the usual superhero story. When I brought my daughters home from foster care I anticipated grief, health issues, tantrums (they were both toddlers, after all). But I didn’t think that 7 years later, one would be healthy and well-adjusted while the other seemed to fall apart emotionally and physically in spite of interventions….
The Big Secret…
I’ve been thinking a lot about how being a special needs parent has changed my life. Sure, there are sleepless nights, giant messes, and financial worries. Even typical parents have those problems! Yet, I have learned priceless lessons—some about me, some about the world. These…are the secrets that make this journey worth it all. 1….
What To Do When Your Rope Breaks
My little girl is finally safe in a hospital – a mental hospital – and I’m losing my mind about it. I know some of you have kids with special needs of the neuropsychological kind, too. This post is for you. You know those moments when you wonder where God went? Because if He was…
A Vacation From Special Needs
Today I’m driving to my mom’s for a week of swimming, museums, movies and play time. This time will be different, though. This time I left “special needs” off my packing list. After laboring over the decision for weeks, my husband gently urged me to choose rest on this vacation. Which means that yesterday, I…
The Value of Life.
…”The hard part is trying to answer the questions Walker raises in my mind every time I pick him up, What is the value of a life like his — a life lived in the twilight and often in pain? What is the cost of his life to those around him? … If Walker is…
Hope Comes Through A Hole In My Wall
Anyone else living in a trashed house? I do. It’s the kind where rays of sunshine pour over beautifully painted walls – well, mostly, except for the place where our 8 year old kicked a hole through one in a rage months ago. Or where doors are missing from being slammed through frames. Or where…
The Leap From Here to Acceptance
This week, I travel across the country to She Speaks, to press into my dream of writing a book. In the program, we’ll each share our story. This is part of mine – and I’m excited to share it with you, my fellow parents-in-the-trenches of special needs. ———————- “Curiosity is …another name for Hope.” ~Augustus…
Do you still follow your dreams?
Do you still nurture your own dreams? I’m headed across the country to She Speaks in North Carolina next week. It’s the next step in my journey toward a dream. In preparation, I’ve been thinking a lot about dreams and purpose. Hours have passed writing a book proposal, working on talks for the speaker evaluation…
Dealing With Anxiety in Our Kids
It’s the same every summer. We leave the routine of school and it throws my girls WAY off. We’ve got anxiety and stress-related behavior challenges coming out our ears in our house. So I thought it would be a good time to repost this short vlog I shared at the start of the school year….