As many of you are aware, April is Autism Awareness month. When my son who is almost 21, was diagnosed with Autism, the numbers indicated 12 out of 10,000 children were diagnosed with this disorder. The CDC's newest stats claim that 1 in every 68 children are now diagnosed with Autism and 1 in every 42 boys have the disorder. When these new figures were released, I couldn't help but think to … [Read more...]
God’s Strength For The Day
Like most parents, you probably hit the floor running each morning...there is always so much to do and not enough hours in the day to do everything. I learned early on that having a child with special needs meant I needed to learn how to be flexible...I could have a long "to-do" list, but if my son was having a bad day, that list would go out the window. I also had to learn to be … [Read more...]
The Source of Our Joy
I always pray before I write for this blog to see if there is something God wants me to specifically write about. I really feel impressed that there are many who are reading this, who are struggling under the weight of heavier than usual burdens right now. The winter months can be difficult. There has been so much extreme weather in many parts of the world, and it's been a severe season with … [Read more...]
How We Can Look toward a New Year with Hope
I don't know about you, but I have always found as a special needs parent, that all of the typical comments that come with a new year ring really hollow...all the wishes that are definitely well-meant, like... "May this be your best year ever..." "May this year bring good health and healing to you and your family..." I'm not trying to be negative or pessimistic here ... I'm all for … [Read more...]
Dealing With The Holidays
Whether we are ready or not, the holiday season is upon us. Some people do not look forward with joyful anticipation to all that happens between the end of November and the beginning of January. Many start dreading Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, long before they arrive. For some, the anticipation and dread are far worse than the actual day. When my son was born and before he was … [Read more...]
Mourning The Losses of Life
Many parents of special needs children grieve and mourn the loss of their dreams and expectations for their children around the time they are first getting a diagnosis. I did not experience that with my son. I had lost three children before having my son and my pregnancy with him was precarious to the point that he only had a five percent chance of being born and surviving. I was so grateful and … [Read more...]