Back in June, I wrote about getting other kids to play with your child, an issue that a lot of parents of kids with special needs grapple with. It is still plaguing me, and it’s stressful. Max is a superfriendly, curious kid. But he scares other kids. Yesterday, two neighborhood kids came over to the…
Monthly Archives: October 2009
An Autism Veteran’s Take on the New Statistics
The number of children receiving a diagnosis of autism is spiking once again. But what do these numbers really mean? Parents like me, whose children are over the age of 20, have a good idea. When our toddlers were losing language and exhibiting peculiar behavior in the late eighties, it was very difficult to get…
The Locker
They sit in rows, one on top of the other, spanning the length of the hallway. They break apart only to make room for a door into a classroom, or maybe a closet. When we first went to a school that had lockers in the hallways, I remember Spiff running his hands over them, almost…
My Sisters
I didn’t belong to a sorority when I was in college, but I feel like I belong to one now. I ran into one of my sorority sisters in the parking lot at Target yesterday. She, like I, was struggling to get a wheelchair out of the back of a vehicle. The slight smile on…
Special Exposure Wednesday
If it’s one thing Ivy loves to do in meltdown week, it’s draw. In this case, it’s to draw, with chalk, on the verandah, on one of our first real Spring days. Got a photo to share? Why don’t you join in this Special Exposure Wednesday. Please remember your comment love at each…
The joy
The thing about having a kid with special needs is, the sorrows are intense. But so are the joys. When Max does anything for the first time, I could practically do a cartwheel. When he brings home an art project, I’m in awe. When he attempts to say words, I’m gleeful. When he dances, my…
Soccer update
Soccer tournaments are next weekend. This season has seemed long at times. And sometimes, it feels like it it flying by. We still don’t know if this will be her first and last soccer season. Or if she will try again. But we have learned a few things about our girl: She LOVES to be…
Welcome to the world of IEPs
From the time Kennedy was born I knew that eventually we would be part of the world of IEPs. I learned my acronyms… LRE and FAPE… I took classes on IEP law where I learned that if you weren’t in total agreement, don’t sign ANYTHING. We went to Kennedy’s placement meeting for Kindergarten and I…
Tingle All The Way
Since everybody has been passing on all their tips and tricks for parenting and wellness, I decided to take a leap and pass on one of my own. Actually, I was cleaning out my bathroom closet, ran across this little gadget, and started fondly thinking about all the use it’s gotten over time. …
When things are going well
When Matthew was home last weekend, we had three very normal conversations! They were: 1) Me: “Did your friend Joe move away?” Matthew: “That’s what I heard.” 2) Me: “Have you seen any good movies lately” Matthew: “No, but I’d like to. What movies have you seen?” 3) Me: (driving Matthew to a gardening job,…