I’ve been a little slack at posting here. And today, I’m leaving you with a picture that I found and I want to adapt it to be my new mantra. The reason for the short post today is: I am currently in Wisconsin at the Institute for Patient and Family Centered Care conference. Only 1…
Different or Fancy?
It was a relatively easy, but somewhat mind-numbing task to accommodate the child’s fixed preferences at her place setting. We don’t have quite enough “matching” flatware pieces to make it to the next dishwasher run. We tend to run out of teaspoons and case knives before plates and bowls. Over the years of combining two…
Special Exposure Wednesday – Spider Man
The boy’s school had a Halloween parade. Guess who showed up as Spider Man? How was your Halloween? Share what you managed to capture this week. Please spread the comment love around.
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…
The Anonymous Note, Part 2 And Those Kids Who Inspire Special Needs Moms
When my daughter Zoe was a toddler, she didn’t spend her days spreading out her toys and playing on our cool tile floor , or toddling around clutching her favorite doll with sticky juice hands like her big sister Olivia did. Instead, Zoe preferred to cuddle for comfort. Her speech didn’t develop until late so…
Families
We all have them. I’m not talking about your spouse and your kids. I’m talking about the “extended” family. Most of mine is fairly supportive. However, I do have a rash of those who say: “I admire what you’re doing!” “He’d be dead if you didn’t adopt him, blesshisheart!” OR… “If I were you, I’d…
Thanksgiving
Oh, I know, it’s not even Halloween (quite) yet, but just like I’m sure you can find retail locations in your community that are a bit ahead of the game with the witches and ghosts keeping company with the Santas and menorahs, my heart is already set on Thanksgiving. Being thankful is good for you,…
Special Exposure Wednesday – On His Own
The boy attended a classmate’s birthday party at a theme park. He requested, nay, pleaded, to ride the boat on his own. There’s a side story to that but at least, he had fun. Share what you managed to capture this week. Please don’t forget to spread the comment love around.
US Autism & Asperger Association World Conference
US Autism & Asperger Association (USAAA) will live stream the annual USAAA World Conference for the second straight year on USAAA TV. The broadcast will begin Thursday evening, 7 pm PST, October 27, 2011 and continue through Sunday, October 30, 2011. Over thirty of the world’s leading Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) experts will discuss evidence-based…
Romanticizing Adoption and Special Needs
It’s tough being an adoptive parent. And a parent of special needs kids. I’m both. And today reminded me of one of the most frustrating aspects of our situation: other people romanticizing it. Sitting on a counselor’s couch at a residential treatment facility where one of our girls has been for 6 weeks, life doesn’t…