Bear will be five this weekend. Five years that have aged me at least fifteen. We knew it would be a struggle from the day she was born. When we took her home to a “don’t expect much” prognosis. Five surgeries, handfuls of MRIs, CTs, genetic tests and innumerable hours of therapy later, she is…
My son’s happiness vs. our family’s happiness
This weekend, we decided to go out for Italian food at a new restaurant. It was dinnertime, it was going to be crowded, we should have known better. Max gets wiggy in unfamiliar environments, and he can’t stand noise. But we wanted to try. You can guess what happened. We got there, they seated us,…
A Season For Change
I’ve loved my time as managing editor here at 5 Minutes For Special Needs. Raising the bar for how those with special needs are viewed and accepted by society will always be my passion. But right now I have to turn my time and attention to another passion. My family. Parker is one expensive kid….
A look back to the unsettling days of diagnosis
This week’s post is an excerpt from A Regular Guy: Growing Up With Autism. Matthew was always in the same spot when I came to pick him up from preschool, shoving pieces of tan bark from the play area through the chicken-wire gate at the school entrance. No matter what the weather, his handsome face…
Vacation Anxiety
My family has taken only two vacations in the last ten years. Because I am a single parent of four children, three of whom have significant disabilities, planning a vacation overwhelms me. For instance, one of our two vacations has been a Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World. That one worked pretty well because I had…
Special Exposure Wednesday.
Ivy. Our everyday princess. Got a photo to share? Why don’t you join in this Special Exposure Wednesday. Please remember your comment love at each link you visit. Also blogging at Three Ring Circus
No H1N1 vaccine for us, thanks
A few weeks back my mom asked if I was going to get the “swine flu shot” for Bear. My answer: “NO!” She looked at me like I am nuts (a look I get from her and others all.the.time.) and I proceeded to ramble off my reasons for choosing to not get this new vaccine….
Forget the kids—let’s talk about US!
Me: I remember her fondly. That is, the me who used to spend Sunday afternoons reading. The me who used to go out dancing on Saturday night with girlfriends, and end up grooving with some cute guy on the dance floor. The me who used to love planning exotic vacations just as much as going…
Shifting goals
I am scheduled to run a 5K next weekend. Well, I could run or walk, but I’ve committed to run, albeit very, very slowly. I am not an athlete. I have never been an athlete. In high school, I was girl who played trombone and acted in the local drama productions. In college, I played…
Why It Hurts
This is a re-post from my blog from March 2008, but the words still need to be said over and over until everyone gets it. I know I’m preaching to the choir here, but hopefully someone will read it and find it helpful today. Tonight I have been surfing the net and checking up on…