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...]
Faith of Our Fathers
It was inevitable. With two career Air Force grandfathers, at least one of our children was bound to inherit the military gene. Our first clue should have been David’s penchant for drab green and all-things-camouflage. Hands down, his happiest Halloween he dressed as an army soldier. Over the years, as his collection of little green men grew into battalions and his interests graduated to books … [Read more...]
The Trampoline Catechism
Friends, As the head of ChosenFamilies.org, a ministry for families living with hidden disabilities, it is my privilege to work with some amazing people. We do in the hidden disability category much of what Specialneedsparenting.net does for the broader category of disability concerns -- we have writers who share their journey in order to encourage others. This month I wanted to share with … [Read more...]
Family Life with Autism: Welcome to the Cincinnati Zoo
I’m jolted from sleep when the heat-seeking-body-missile of my 24-year-old son lands next to me on the bed. I pry open sleep-encrusted eyes to encounter Joel’s face, two inches from my own. He grins, giving me an up-close view of his smile crinkles, just like his dad’s; little fans on either side of his baby blues. “Zoo today!” he crows. “Zoo, zoo, zoo, Cincinnati zoo, zoo, zoo!” Like many … [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...]