Isolation. Rarely is the bone-aching pain of special needs so completely summed up in one word. The word conjures up images of life going on while the unpopular and unfit are left behind; the loneliness of hours upon hours dragging on with no phone calls, no visits from friends, no invitations from others come to mind; being marginalized, ignored, treated as an annoyance, or unlovable by everyone … [Read more...]
The Trick That Saved My Child From Imploding
Slam! She stomps into the house, tossing her bag across the floor with contempt. I lurch upward, nearly dropping my glass of water as she flops hard on the couch next to me. "Another tough day, huh?" I ask, barely suppressing laughter over her outrageous theatrics. "Need a snack?" I ask. She grunts (I think it was supposed to be a "no"). "Need an iPod?" I casually reply. And instantly she's … [Read more...]