Our special needs son Andrew loves Disneyland; but that’s not what makes him unique. After all, you’d be hard pressed to find a child that doesn’t dream of spending day in and day out at the world’s most famous amusement park. What does make Andrew unique, however, is that unlike many other children his age,…
Disneyland Guest Assistance Passes Not a “Perk”
Why My Best Friend’s Daughter Made Me Cry
It’s not a conversation you expect to have with a 2nd grader. I was in the car the other day with my son Andrew, and my best friend’s daughter, Berkeley (yeah, like the school). We were in the McDonald’s drive-thru (hey, I don’t just want my kids to be unhealthy) when Berkeley spoke up from…
We Are Special Needs Parents
We discuss our children’s diagnosis and challenges like most parents discuss refrigerator art or the dangers of Tonka toys cluttering the hallways. We know better than to fill up our calendars with permanent marker; we prefer pencil instead. We linger just a little bit longer when we hug, because so often those extra five seconds…
I’m Aware.
I’m aware. I’m aware that the majority of society does not look too kindly on having to slow down and wait for someone slower and clumsier than they are. I’m aware of every sound way before you are, desperately trying to ascertain whether the next noise my son hears will be the undoing of him.…
For the First Time (Since Ever) He Didn’t Sit Alone
Every morning I put my special needs son Andrew on the school bus buckle him in cover him in love and cross my fingers and toes that he’ll be okay while he’s away Every morning he stares at me through the window while I wave and blow kisses and jump up and down hoping…
And Then You Came and Made Us Whole
Your father he loves to tell the story of how the nurses had to part your hair with a comb after you were born I love the part when my water broke at midnight and your dad fast asleep on the hospital cot next to me nearly broke his neck jumping out of bed…
Home Run
He started the day with his fingers crossed that the baseball fields would be dry. It hailed here yesterday and we Southern Californians are, well, a bit wimpy when it comes to weather. Our Parks and Recreation officials tend to take rain very seriously and baseball fields are often closed after a downpour. Even if…