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Chores and Responsibilities
Today's is a short one, friends. That's what happens when you have a kiddo who has been coughing all night. Fingers crossed it's a mild cold and not the crap that has been spreading around his...
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The Calm Before The Storm
This morning serves as a good metaphor for the veracity of this life we lead. In the distance, I hear the intermittent sounds of warning sirens. The wind is rushing through the trees, bending the...
View ArticleBad Mother
Each day has had snippets of smiles, but many more moments of struggle than we are used to witnessing.In particular, my boy wakes up struggling these days. I go in his room and peek down into his...
View ArticleThe Toll
My God, I'm tired. I'm weary, I'm exhausted, and I'm tired of the fight. There are days where I just want to curl up and shut the world out. To hell with what you say...let my boy be! However, I...
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Tony Knows
Echolalia can be an adorable thing, really. I may never fully know what is going on in Jack's school days, but I know what they sing. Sometimes it's something easily identifiable like "The Wheels on...
View ArticleCompliance Issues
I hear people talk about compliance a lot within the autism community. Autistics share experiences about being taught "compliance" and having that trust violated by way of abuse or manipulation....
View ArticleEcholalia Evolving
"Although Jack's spontaneous speech production has increased significantly during his time in speech therapy, he still still exhibits echolalia far more often than initiating speech production."---The...
View ArticleIEP Season
It's time. The notice came in the mail. A long list of therapists and teachers was printed. A date was proposed. I accepted. It's coming.It's time for my son's annual IEP review.You feel my...
View ArticleBe a Good Man
As you read this, I'm likely either sitting in Jack's annual IEP meeting or I'm actively trying to keep the chunks from rising in my throat as I think about it. Why? Because anxiety is a funny beast....
View ArticleNot a Baby Anymore
Dear School Team Jack (as I've come to affectionately know you all),I just have to let you all know that after multiple IFSPs and a previous IEP, I believe that yesterday's meeting was a glowing...
View ArticleBe Himself: An "Autistic People Should..." Contribution
Over the weekend, many autism bloggers produced posts with the prompt "Autistic people should...". They did this because of the plethora of negative responses one sees if they were to search for that...
View ArticleAngry at God
It's been an up-and-down, back-and-forth battle.There are days that have been better. There are days that have been worse. There are days that I wouldn't wish upon anyone. There are days that I...
View ArticleAnonymity
I light of some controversial posts in the post-Newtown America, there's been a lot of talk recently about the degree of anonymity we afford our children through our blogs, our Facebook pages, and the...
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Snowball Effect
WARNING: This post has a lot of talk about poop. Seriously. But folks, I've been up to my elbows in it this past week plus, so it's what you're going to hear about today. You're going to hear about...
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Dreaming
Jack - 7 weeks oldI went in his room, quietly, hoping to steal in and back out faster than I'll be able to pull myself away. I just need to know - need to check and make sure he's okay - as mamas are...
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What A Good IEP Looks Like
This is what a good day at school looks like.I've been running on all cylinders, changing diapers, and trying to help my boy feel some relief for the past 10 days. It's been a whirlwind and I think -...
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Setting Yourself Up for a Good IEP
On the heels of yesterday's post about our epic IEP meeting a couple of weeks ago, I thought I'd share some of my tips for a successful school relationship and - hopefully - IEP. Bear in mind, all...
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My Dearest Friends (A Spread the Word to End the Word Contribution)
Author's Note: I wasn't going to write this today. I wasn't. I reposted one of my many prior posts on the R-word, and I was going to leave it at that. However, that was before I saw not one, not...
View ArticleNot My Fault
"He just does that because he knows you'll give in."---I wish you could be a fly on my wall. I wish you could see the number of times that he screams because something isn't right and how I don't...
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Invisible Disabilties
Autism is truly an invisible disability. The general public - hell, even people who are part of the special needs community but don't have direct experience with autism - seem to have this idea in...
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