Parenting experts have been known to quip the phrase “pick your battles.” In my experience as a special needs parent, however, the problem isn’t just about which battles to fight, but knowing when it’s okay to lose. Long ago I surrendered the battle with my autistic sons over a healthy diet in favor of settling for almost anything that would keep my picky, OCD eaters alive and breathing. … [Read more...]
CLEARER at a DISTANCE
Seldom, as a parent of an adult child with special needs, do I get to “see” my son at a distance. He is always up-close and right by my side as I’m helping meet his needs in many areas, including: Showering Shaving Cutting food Getting clothing on/off Maneuvering a curb Walking through a crowd Getting through a rough discipline issue …and I find that everything is simply NORMAL … [Read more...]
Wednesday Breakthrough {Guest Post}
Read below for a guest post from Sheila Temple. Madison would always answer the cursory questions Dr. Jim asked her. For example: Dr. Jim: How is school going? Madison: Good Dr. Jim: How are you getting along with your friends? Madison: Pretty good Dr. Jim: Are you having any trouble sleeping? Madison: A little Dr. Jim: Today do you feel angry? Madison: Yes This … [Read more...]
Surviving the “Normal” Moments with Special Needs Tweens
I drove up to my daughter’s after school bus stop as the bus drove away. Not seeing her brunette hair as I looked down the street, my heart pounded. “Where is she?” I thought. It was the first day we'd planned for her to stay after school for math tutoring. For almost a month, we’d talked about her starting this week. We walked through the routine at school that morning---which classroom she’d … [Read more...]
Fierce Trust
Do you ever wonder if you’re selling your kid short? Even though my son isn’t exactly a “kid” anymore—he’s 29-years-old—I sometimes tend to shortchange him when it comes to my expectations of his capabilities. It’s hard to tell with autism exactly what your child knows or doesn’t know. Especially when he or she doesn't have a lot of language. Even though Joel has moderate cognitive … [Read more...]
Am I a bad parent?
The hardest part for me about parenting a child with special needs is the insecurity. Insecurity. . . with professionals who seem to know so much more than I feel like I do with friends and family who secretly and not-so-secretly disagree on the reasons my adopted kids act the way they do. when I pick up the monthly slew of psychiatric meds at our pharmacy and fear what the 19 year … [Read more...]