Do you have those classic questions that people have been asking you over and over again since your unique parenting journey began? You know the ones I mean. That same thing or two you've heard people inquire year after year after year? I know that I have heard one relentless question since the day my son was first diagnosed with Hemophilia A - Severe 18 years ago — "Will he ever get … [Read more...]
When the World Stares at My Daughter
The little girl walking on the sidewalk ahead of us clutches her mother's hand, but continues to turn around and curiously survey my daughter as she sweeps her white cane back and forth with each step she takes. I smile at the little girl and continue the conversation I'm having with my daughter. It used to bother me when strangers would stare. My daughter was born with her eye condition, … [Read more...]
The Sunny Side of Life
Each morning I make my husband Joe and I an egg. The goal is to make our eggs “sunny side up” but if (when) the yolk breaks, plan B is in effect: scrambled is served! And plan B happens most of the time! Similarly, every day caring for one with special needs is like that. That sums up our life – how about yours? Everyday we set out for “sunny side up”, hoping we’ve all awakened on the right … [Read more...]
Special Needs Has Me Surrounded
"Oh, my. You have your hands full." I've heard it. It's been said to me too many times to count. Go on, hands up. I know it has been said to you, too. How many of you have had heard this, not just once, but so many well-meaning times? There is no doubt in my mind, people, special needs has me surrounded. But, it's not what you're thinking. My open mouth/insert foot thing to say to these people … [Read more...]
Loving our kids as we love ourselves?
People look at you and say, “I don’t know how you do it,” and you aren’t quite sure what they are talking about. You just did what was necessary. You learned about sensory integration, drug interactions, reflex integration, nutritional therapies, coffee enemas, methylation, verbal behavior training, brain gym, and a host of other things, just to help your child take one step forward... (excerpt … [Read more...]
The Sprinkled Blessings of Living with Autism
One snowy Saturday my fourteen-year-old son Joel and I bundled up to visit Janet, a friend just home from the hospital. Eight short weeks before, Janet had a stare-down with death and won. Joel didn’t really know Janet. She was an old friend of mine who lived out of town during much of his childhood. When she moved back to Cincinnati, we only saw each other once or twice a year. And yet, “Let’s … [Read more...]