I remember being in high school and I had to take a health class. You know the one where you had to carry around an egg for a week to see if you can take care of a baby. One class, I remember had to carry a doll baby that cried every time you put it down. That was brutal to watch my friends do that. Well, you just read about all the training I had to be a mother. Yes, that is right, I had … [Read more...]
When the Disability’s Not So “Bad”
I feel guilty about a very strange thing. Not about something I’ve done, but about something I was given. Today, I want to hold my hand up and shield people from paying attention to this part of my life; here, in this particular community of parents who struggle daily with special needs, and never-ending vigilance. A few codes in our neurologist’s office indicate I’ve every right to be among you … [Read more...]
Autism Awareness Through the Eyes of Jesus
Autism awareness through the eyes of Jesus? During Autism Awareness Month, I like to remind myself and those who know and love someone with autism to look at that child or adult through the eyes of Jesus. Changing one's gaze explodes preconceptions and shifts paradigms in a powerful way. The following was written when my son Joel was ten years old. He is now 31. This is a vision I go back to, time … [Read more...]
You Really Like Me?
Do you remember the old Sally Field Oscar acceptance speech when she says, "You like me! You really like me!"? (Maybe I'm showing my age. Google it.) One day I said this to my son, Evan. He was being sweet to me and I said, "Evan, you like me! You really like me!" Aaand the rest is history. He now says this ten times a day to us. And he asks every single person he meets if they 'really like' him. … [Read more...]
The Googolplex of Disability, or, How Many Times I Have to Repeat Myself
I’m going to be honest. I took high school calculus because my best friend was taking it, and I needed to prove I was as smart as she was. I was very insecure, and what’s worse, I hated math. But I did get something good from all those numbers: a B- and a neat little tidbit: A “googol” is 10 to the power of 100. The “googolplex” is significantly larger: 10 to the power of a googol - 10googol, or … [Read more...]
When All I Want Is to Be Done with Special Needs
One of the first words out of our oldest grandchild's mouth was, "DONE!" He used it emphatically at the end of meals... DONE! When having his face washed or his nose wiped... DONE! Or my personal favorite...approximately two seconds after his parents put him in his crib for a nap and then carefully and oh-so-quietly shut the door to his bedroom... DONE! Lately, I've found myself silently … [Read more...]