My daughter, Mary and I went away for the holidays. We spent a very long day traveling and she was unable to to get down on the floor and play like she likes to do. I noticed during the plane ride that she was pushing her hands together and almost popping her wrists. Later that…
Category Archives: Conditions and Diseases
I Hate Labels
When our children have difficulties in school, learning or another issue which makes us suspect that there is something “wrong” we don’t many options to get a diagnosis without sending our children through testing. I know I’ve mentioned this before but in case you are a first time reader, I’m an adult who has ADD…
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….
10 Basic Tips for Regaining Post-Holiday Happiness
The holidays can be challenging for just about everyone as fatigue from busy schedules, the strain of holiday spending and challenges due to family discord are faced. For many, after the gifts are opened and the parties have ended, the post-holiday let down is just beginning. As a result, Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, PhD, BCBA-D, a…
Underestimating Our Children’s Awareness?
Do we underestimate our kids or are we spot on? This question has been floating around my head; though it’s not the first time I’ve had floating thoughts, nor the first time this one has made its rounds, it is at the forefront today. After our wedding fiasco (said lovingly and lightly), we had theories…
Is That A Banana In your pocket?
Perhaps you were one of the “lucky” ones growing up and didn’t actually watch the absolutely ridiculous movie It’s Pat. Consider yourself lucky, it was one of the stupidest movies I’ve ever seen!! (Or the Sex in the City episode where Samantha uses a vibrator to soothe Miranda’s baby?) What does the title of my…
New Year’s Resolutions
It’s that time of year again! I am making resolutions, as I always do. I try to make my resolutions small and manageable. One year, I stopped buying magazines for 12 months. I had plenty passed along to me and I borrowed them from the library. The good news is that I accomplished my goal…
How Far She’s Come
As special needs parents our calendars quickly fill up with therapies and appointments. In between we may be finding time for other children, our spouses, jobs, and running a household. Among the day-to-day we may lose sight of the big accomplishments and how far we’ve progressed in a relatively short period of time. I know…
Resolution: Don’t Give Your Power to Others
Like Santa, I know my children! I see them when they’re sleeping. I know when they’re awake. I know when they’ve been bad or good and I teach them to be good for goodness sake! So why… WHY, when a nasty, mean-spirited coward rolls down her car window as we exit the store where my children behaved…
What You SHOULD say to a Special Needs Family
To follow up on last week’s post of what NOT to say to a Special Needs Family, I polled some folks to find out what you SHOULD say. You know, stuff that would be nice to hear? And this is what my special friends told me: What can I do to help? If you don’t…