Something happened at church. Or perhaps what you need to know is, what didn’t happen. I pulled up to the church and Max bounced out of the car swinging his favorite vacuum. Several people were unsuspectingly milling around by the front door, exchanging greetings. “Watch out for the people!” I yelled behind Max as I watched his 8-pound Oreck swing like a ten ton wrecking ball. I fully expected … [Read more...]
Stuck On Repeat (The Special Needs Repetition)
* Some names have been changed. You know why. Almost every day my husband purposely sings a song with the intention of getting the tune stuck on repeat in my head. It's usually something obscure and fairly terrible. (Shhh. Don't tell him I secretly find this endearing.) With the exception of Friday. On Friday I can count on him waking the whole house with Rebecca Black's fabulous and memorable … [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...]
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...]
My Thanks to the Stranger
Years ago the grocery store was the last place I wanted to go with my son with autism. Now, it's the place I don't want to leave. I followed my son into the tiny grocery, his steps bouncing so high that I thought he might lift right off the ground. He dashed behind the counter and slipped off his coat so that everyone could see the store logo on his shirt. Max is so proud to put on that shirt … [Read more...]