Sometimes I have wished that kids came with an instruction manual. This is especially true when raising a child with special needs. Most parenting books are designed to help parents gain the skills and expertise needed to raise healthy, well...
Nick is constantly my teacher. I want to share another valuable lesson he has taught me. Years ago, we noticed that whenever something bad had happened, Nick would say, “Oh well.” It might be when the stack he was creating fell over, or even...
Nick lives in the moment. Yes he can have anxiety about future events, but he doesn’t spend his time strategizing to create certain outcomes in his life. He either enjoys or tolerates what is currently happening. Sometimes he does ask...
We are working on getting all the Christmas decorations put up. Nick is impatient. Some of the lights need to be replaced. He also doesn’t understand that we need to take time to sleep and eat and do work. He just wants the decorations to...
Some days are hectic and some are relaxing. Each one carries a potential lesson for us. It is up to us to ponder, meditate and discover the lesson. Some of life’s lessons are hard, others are easy. Some lessons are learned through one...
For the past four months, I have been working on the second draft of the book I am writing about raising Nick. I have such compassion for the young mother that I was. I am astounded at the things that I have been able to do over the years. I...
Just like most everyone I know, my calendar of scheduled appointments gets filled up. Not all of these appointments are work related, some are lunches or dinners with friends. Some of my appointments are self-care and pampering as well. My...
This past weekend, Nick had a bit of a cold. I was so grateful that he had learned to blow his nose. He was 13 then. Back in the summer of 1993, (that sounds like the beginning of a song!) we took an epic trip to Ireland with our extended...
I was chatting this morning with a mom who’s 16-year-old daughter has the same syndrome as our Nick. She said that just when she thinks that she can’t do anymore, then somehow she keeps on going, just like the Energizer Bunny. I have...
We have all had those days. They start out great, amazing in fact. And then somewhere in the middle, a crisis rears its ugly head. Sometimes we are caught completely unawares and other times we know “the particular event” is...
Most of the time, Nick is very sweet and compliant. However, he is human and there are times his behavior is not correct and I get frustrated at him. Even angry. As soon as he notices that I am upset, he immediately apologizes. “I sorry...
Nick has been having a wonderful time in Ireland, until just after 10:00 pm Sunday night. Without warning, he had about 30 minutes of pretty intense seizures. It was particularly terrifying. Once the seizures had stopped, it took a little...
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