Category Archives: Me Time

Now She Knows She’s Different

When Zoe was little I spent a lot of time thinking  ( and writing) about about how different she was. Then she grew, and through her grade school years blossomed with the encouragement to try and do her best as I made sure she was always included, and treated just like everyone else. Zoe will be starting…

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How to Hold it Together When the World Falls Apart

Hi you guys! This is basically my week again…only different surgery on the stomach…I’ll update you later…   ****************************************************************************     I get tired–the kind of tired that makes your bones ache. Sometimes, I get grumpy too. Hey, don’t we all? In this ever-winding road of special needs parenting, I find myself often in a…

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The Chicken

Life sucks sometimes, right? Yeah. In the past few weeks, lots of heavy stuff has been going on (in my world and in the world at large). We’re still having testing done on Jack for school. My daughter is hormonal and vacilates from angel to devil in mere moments. I’m struggling to muddle through my…

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It’s the Little Things

There just always seems to be too many other more important things to do. Our time and money are both limited right now, so if the kids need something, it comes first. But does this mean I should neglect myself completely? I think not, and I got the lesson in a strange way.

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Mom Hair

I am, not by a long shot, a fashion maven. Most days, I rock the t-shirt and jeans look.Some days, I’m lucky if I get to wash my face (showering is clearly not happening on a daily basis!). Up until recently, I haven’t cared how I look (seriously, I tried to water down mascara that…

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Don’t Forget An Important Part of Your “Thankful For” List

A Day to remember why you’re thankful. What you’re thankful for. Thankful for partners, the few (or more) supporters that surround you, jobs / careers, friends, insurance, making it this far in your journey. This year, this time, I encourage you to reach within, look within – to you. Inward to your strength, your drive…

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Book Review: House Rules by Jodi Picoult

Most people just don’t get it right. When they write for us, about us, or to us. When it comes to others’ view of our lives in families with special needs, I’ve never seen anyone show it like it really is.* The lack of realism, empathy (and appropriate gallows humor) is partly why I’m writing…

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Overcoming Compassion Fatigue In Your Family

There’s a new diagnosis on the block. This time, it’s for us – the parents. A few months ago, I wrote about a must-watch stress documentary for special needs parents. Yesterday, while visiting my daughter at her residential treatment facility, I discovered a term that explains what we face even better than stress. Compassion fatigue….

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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…

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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…

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