What is normal
What does the word 'normal' mean anyway? People use it as a baseline when referring to so many things. I guess since I became a special mom, I notice when and how people use the word more often-I seem...
View ArticleCourage under fire
An actor in the movie "Ladder 49" said, "Courage is not the absence of fear, but the realization that there is something more important than fear." Obviously, he was referring to the courage...
View ArticleTruly special
Did you ever stop and think about the person you were before your special child was born? How you have changedhow time and circumstances have changed you from the inside out? The moment we became...
View ArticleLessons Learned
I've been a special mom now for almost thirteen years. I've grown into a mom that is stronger and more effective than if my daughter was never born. I take pride each and every day that she has molded...
View ArticleYour Special Backpack
As we all know, our daily lives changed in many ways when our special child came into our world. Think about the early days of the diagnosis or delays that affected your child.
View ArticleA new you
I'm very certain that if you asked any special parent if their child has changed their life, they would all answer "Ye.
View ArticleNever give up
All parents are proud when their children are involved in extracurricular activities. For parents of typically developing children, these are expected, routine events.
View ArticleThey Are Watching
As special parents, we think we have to constantly be "in mode." We think we have to continually be working towards some kind of goal. Finding something that will help our child seems to always be on...
View ArticleDon't start school year negatively
Many parents are excited when school begins again-they are happy their family's schedule has started, and they can settle back into a routin.
View ArticleDon't take anything for granted
Over the summer my friends and I spent the day at Geneva-on-the-Lake, Ohio. While eating at an outdoor restaurant, we were surrounded by families with small children, and adults of all ages. As we sat,...
View ArticleBecoming bulletproof
I often describe entering "a new normal" that surfaces when you are raising a child with a disability. It's a phase of life that only special parents can relate to.
View ArticleLights of Hope
Sometimes on this special parenting journey we feel like we can't see anything that lies ahead of us. We are taking steps in survival mode, not knowing where it will lead us.
View ArticleChanging the Atmosphere
If you're a special parent, I'm sure you can recall the moment you became "special." You remember the minute, maybe the day or week.the sights and sounds, the time of year, and your circle of support...
View ArticleFree to soar
Speechless is a family comedy in which one of the main characters is a person with cerebral palsy. His muscles limit his movement and he is unable to use his mouth to speak. He uses a wheelchair for...
View ArticleIt takes a village
I'm sure you have heard the saying, "It takes a village to raise a child." When you are speaking of a child with a disability, that saying couldn't be truer.
View Article2 quick breakfast recipes to the rescue
At the beginning of the year, my family grew by two more feet. We added a sweet little girl to our family of four. Adding another baby came with added challenges.
View ArticleVision of hope
When your child was younger, did you have hope? Hope for his or her future? Or did you spend most of your time in survival mode? If you recently became a special parent, can you put yourself in a...
View ArticleCelebrating seasons
Is there a certain time of year that is particularly challenging for you as it relates to your special child? Maybe it is a specific date or season that brings on anxiety of when you first entered the...
View ArticleTrust your heart
I believe all parents have instincts, or parental intuition, and I feel parents of children with special needs have a little more of these instincts. Because we need them.
View ArticleWhy fit in?
"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?" has always been my favorite Dr. Suess quoteand since my daughter came into the world sixteen years ago, it is even more meaningful to me.
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