Monthly Archives: August 2011

We’re all Different…We’re all the Same

I’m writing a story with the child about the things that make us different from each other. I’m hoping this will be a soft entry to explaining her challenges and her triumphs over them in a way that is positive and yet open and honest. We’ve already talked about how even the people in our…

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Special Exposure Wednesday: Cool Drink On A Summer Day

There’s nothing better than a cool drink on a warm summer day. Of course, using a part of your Tinker Toys as a straw makes it so much better, 🙂 <a href=”http://www.specialneeds.5minutesformom.com/category/special-exposure-wednesday/”><img title=”specialexposurewednesday” src=”http://www.specialneeds.5minutesformom.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/specialexposurewednesday.jpg” alt=”special needs wordless wednesday” width=”286″ height=”255″ /></a> Share what you managed to capture. Please spread the comment love around.

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Would You Change the Birth Order of Your Children? Typical vs. Special

We’ve had the conversation a number of times…well, long ago. It comes up every now and again, when we reflect on where we are and from where we came…where it all began. The question is one I pose to you. Because I wonder if another has thought of this, if it matters in the end…not…

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What GALL !!!

Insensitive people make me angry. And that’s what happened last Friday night when a rude woman confronted Melissa in a restaurant. What Gall !!!

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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….

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Can You Treat Depression Without Prescription Drugs?

Author’s note: this is a reprint of a local mental health professional’s article about ways to manage depression without medication. I loudly state that outside influences are only a part of the big behavioral health picture. I do feel that Dr. Jantz’s suggestions can apply to our lives as parents of psecial needs children as…

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Let’s Try Something Different

Happy Monday!! I thought we could do something a little bit different this week. I’m always thrilled to interact with readers, so hopefully we can get some great conversations going. On my personal blog, I wrote about being sucker punched. Obviously I was well aware that my girls would start asking questions about Jillian’s cerebral…

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Truth and Beauty

When Zoe was little, each moment of truth was stunning. She will never walk by herself. She won’t run in the grass, walk in the sand, or recklessly dance her way across the room. These moments have continued as she grows older. Drive a car. Have a child. Grow old. I grieve these truths and then move…

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Is this what acceptance looks like?

Many of us ride the roller coaster of hope. Things are easier to manage when we have hope that everything’s going to turn out all right. When we’re going down the roller coaster, everything looks dismal and bleak. I’m happy to say that I’ve gotten off of the roller coaster for the time being. Things…

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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….

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