Last night, I received a message from the county that we were under a tornado watch for the next four hours. A quick glance through the curtains revealed blue skies out front, but darkening clouds out back. Various scenarios scrolled through my mind, like one of those old View Masters that changed pictures with the push of a lever. Possibilities included lots of crying, meltdowns, insisting to … [Read more...]
High-Functioning Guilt
My son Samuel was diagnosed with autism at 28 months old. He was mostly non-verbal, except for when he scripted his favorite movie lines or spelled out letters he saw on signs. He had no meaningful communication and he screamed a lot. He repeatedly banged his head on the floor when he had meltdowns. He slowly cut back on the foods he willingly ate until eventually, he only ate goldfish and … [Read more...]
Behind the Special-Needs Scrim
The sanctuary was dark. The air was thick with grief, tension, and anticipation of what we all knew was coming next. But nothing prepared me for what my eyes were about to behold. I was watching our church's Easter pageant from the middle of the large auditorium. We had just witnessed the Passion of Jesus as He had been tortured and crucified. The scene was dark, the people quiet. Suddenly, a … [Read more...]
Is It Over Yet?
The stockings have been ripped from their hooks and ravaged for their goodies. The presents have been pillaged and the remains of wrappings are still being found. Cookie crumbs are all that's left of what was an overflowing plate just yesterday. And the burning question on our exhausted minds beg, "Is it over yet?!" Yes. Christmas is over. But... Our children are likely still reeling … [Read more...]
Nuclear Family Meltdown
I don't do math. And I really don't do science. In high school, geometry was the only math class I actually aced - the ONLY math class I ever aced. In college, in order to fill my course requirement, I opted for "Basics of Mathematics" assuming it would be an easy A. Or with my record, probably a B-. Except the whole stinking course was nothing but word problems. Stupid, stupid word problems. … [Read more...]
Something to Offer
Why are you here? No, I don't mean for what purpose do you exist. What brought you to reading this post? This blog exists for the primary purpose of encouraging special-needs parents. Special-needs parents walk a very different path from that of others with more typical children. We often feel isolated from the world, and from each other. Here, through this blog and that of many others, we find … [Read more...]