Are you spinning out of control? The bills are piling up. The IEP meetings are so stressful. My child’s behaviors are getting more severe. You haven’t gone out to dinner in forever. You worry about the future of your child. Your marriage is struggling. We have to go to so many different doctor appointments. You are struggling with your job or you are … [Read more...]
Managing Our Own Special Needs: Perfectionism
You probably already know this, but the best way for your family to transform into psychos is to try to get them to church on time. And, when you're like us, raising kids with any kinds of special needs, the last 5 minutes before departure for church is the perfect time for your 10 year old to soil herself, deny it, and require United Nations-level negotiating skills to get her out of her beloved … [Read more...]
Are We There Yet?
As soon as I entered the room I knew something was wrong. All eyes around the conference table turned to me as the principal asked, “Mrs. Anderson, where have you been? Our meeting was supposed to have started half an hour ago.” I was dumbfounded. Really? 30 minutes? Because I had been waiting for them the past half hour in the front office! (All the while, a very confused secretary had … [Read more...]
Battle in the Basement
The morning had been going so well. It was a Sunday morning and we had to be at church early for rehearsal since I was on praise team. Everyone was getting ready to leave without much difficulty, except for my poor husband. The dog had been let out for a minute, but it was raining. He came inside when Kyle called him, and then promptly shook his whole body. Kyle's pants were now splattered in mud, … [Read more...]
I Can’t But God Can
I have heard this statement before but something tonight spoke to me deeper: I can't... but God can. Have you ever tried to do something on your own, but figured out after several attempts that you needed help? Do you go in circles worrying about the same things? Are you at your wits end trying to solve problems over and over again? Charlie and I I struggle with these things at times. I … [Read more...]
At the End of Your Rope?
A letter from my 61-year-old self to my 35-year-old self: Dearest Kathy, I know you're scared. It’s been obvious from the beginning that something was not right with Joel’s development. Lack of oxygen during his birth, severe jaundice, an arrogant doctor who didn’t answer your questions and didn’t insist on hospitalization for the jaundice, floppy muscles, delayed developmental … [Read more...]