Today I was struggling to figure out what to write, and I fell back on a typical strategy, I begged my kids for suggestions. My 15-year-old daughter -- whose significant special needs make communication very challenging -- looked up at me with her big brown eyes and said I should write that she loves me. “Mom, that’s so sweet. You should do that. You should write the piece … [Read more...]
The Harder Days of Being a Special Needs Mom
The other day I found myself getting angry, frustrated, and even sad at a parenting article I read in a magazine. The funny thing is, it wasn’t a piece on the pros and cons of feeding your kid sugar, whether I’m a good or bad mother because I stay home, or whether my youngest child is forever damaged because I bottle fed him but nursed his older brother and sister. No, it … [Read more...]
How a Barbie Doll Helped Me Deal With Our Decision to Put Our Daughter on Medication
As a mom I make quick decisions every day. Many are no more important than what to serve for dinner or how much do I want to battle my teenage son over his decision to wear shorts on a winter day. Too often the stakes are higher. I won’t soon forget my decision to give my first son a peanut butter sandwich only to watch him have a severe allergic reaction to it. Or the day … [Read more...]
When Something Is Wrong With Your Child
I still remember the morning, 14 years ago, when I knew in my soul something wasn’t right with our daughter Lizzy. She was six weeks old and gorgeous. I was enjoying a few lazy moments of cuddling with her in my bed after a feeding. I’m not sure what made me notice it that day, but as I was talking to her, it struck me that she wasn’t looking back at me. That was it, … [Read more...]
Realizing I’m Only a Special Needs Mom, Not a Super Woman
As the parents of a daughter with significant special needs, my husband and I have always tried to shield our two sons from some of the darker realities of Lizzy’s issues. Still, we remain as open as we can, so they can feel close and connected with her and her care. If that sounds as if it might be impossible to accomplish, it is. This weekend I was reminded of the fool’s … [Read more...]
