The park. Thanksgiving dinner. Church. Dinner with friends. The waiting room at the therapist's office. The waiting room in the doctor's office. These are just a few of the places and events where I have had the exact same conversation with countless people. I don't fault them for striking up this conversation and, in fact, I am glad they are asking questions instead of silently … [Read more...]
Out on a Limb
Each morning on my drive home from taking my teens to school, I catch myself looking up as I round the first bend in the road to catch a glimpse of something I think perhaps God has placed there just for me. (Or maybe for any driver blessed with ADHD and a tendency to look everywhere but the road.) I look for a little sign of hope that makes me smile every time I see it: a bird nest, held in the … [Read more...]
Until They’re Gone…
Sometimes, raising a child with special needs, there is a constant undercurrent of stress that we don’t even recognize. It takes release of that stress for us to suddenly realize it was there. That’s what happened to me the other day. I hadn’t noticed how much pressure I was under until my daughter was gone. I was half way through my morning shower when the light bulb went on. I don’t have to … [Read more...]
Keeping Calm When My Child Isn’t
She'd been ranting at me for 45 minutes. My muscles were tense. The ache in my shoulders crept up my neck and threatened to swallow my head whole. It wasn't me she was mad at. It wasn't even the trigger she ranted about that she was mad at. It was---almost always is---her mind spinning into Reactive Attachment Disorder and Bipolar Disorder lows. Moments full of obsessing over one … [Read more...]
Peace Be With You
It’s three days before Christmas and I am at peace. There is no tree decorated in my living room. Gifts will be few and simple as a result of a tough financial year. There are no stockings hung by the chimney with care (an annual safety hazard I somehow justify year after year). And I haven’t even begun to think about what to fix for our Christmas dinner. I’m thinking “meat” might be one item on … [Read more...]
Joy to the World
I grew up in a Southern Baptist church. My father was a pastor and we were blessed to be raised in the faith from our birth. There are many things I love about Southern Baptist life. And there are some things that are just funny memories. Like always singing the 1st, 2nd and final stanza of various hymns. Always. And so, I will never forget being in church on Christmas eve a few years … [Read more...]