My momma always said, “Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” ~~Forrest Gump Give me a party, charity or a fund raising event to pull together and I can carry it to fruition exactly as planned. Give me the task of carrying out homeschool plans with my three…
Destigmatizing Tourette Syndrome
What do you think of when you hear the word “Tourettes”? A person barking, shouting, or swearing? This is what most people think (thanks to the media) when in actuality less than 15% of people with Tourette Syndrome (TS) have coprolalia which is defined as involuntary swearing or the involuntary utterance of obscene words or…
Redeeming Elvis (A Vacation Story)
What a whirlwind the last couple of weeks have been – working on articles and various details for the launch of 5 Minutes for Special Needs between posting on my own blog, going to work, taking care of my husband and son, handling ongoing transportation problems and getting ready for a family vacation that started…
5 Minutes for Special Needs Books
We have a winner! Jai of Wife of 1 Mom of 4 gets the copy of More Than a Mom: Living a Full and Balanced Life When Your Child Has Special Needs, by Heather Faucett and Amy Baskin. Email me at jennifer @ jennifergrafgroneberg.com (don’t forget to take the spaces out when you use this…
5 Minutes For Special Me
Whenever I write a ‘first blog’ as a new contributor, I tend to spend a whole lot of time just explaining who I am. As a guy riddled with chronic insecurity, I always want to somehow explain the baffling set of circumstances that put me in the position of writing for a particular blog. And,…
To Stim or Not to Stim?
Stimming has been a much-discussed topic in my home, at school, and at doctors’ and therapists’ offices. In the early days of Zoe’s diagnosis, we were instructed by doctors and therapists that stimming was a behavior that needed to be eliminated if our child was to function in a “normal” world. Over time we came…
Ashley Time
Having a child with significant medical issues, I find myself measuring time in non-traditional ways. When someone asks “When did you move into your house?”, I say, “Let’s see, it was after Ashley’s second brain surgery but before she had her gallbladder and appendix out.” I could have just as easily said that it was…
My List
I make lists. Lots of them. Especially for Parker. These lists include: A list of medications. A list of when to give said medications. A list of previous surgeries. A list of doctors and their info. A list of therapies to work on. A list of pre-school units to complete. A list of up and…
Welcome to Special Exposure Wednesday
In those times when you have little or no motivation – in parenting or photography – images can trigger a desire to begin another day and try again. I am excited to be sharing Special Exposure Wednesday with you. Along with my passion for parenting, adoption, and advocacy exists a love of photography. While I…
Four Sons, Lots of Questions
Four sons not expected to live. “We do not understand how he survived” we were told…four times. Once at the birth of our oldest son and then each time one of our three younger sons was placed in our arms by the precious gift of adoption. Often I ask myself why we were blessed with…