Mar 2nd, 2010
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
timabbott on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
A recent NY Times opinion piece on toxins and autism has been making the rounds lately, and well, frankly, the piece bugs the crap out of me, and I can't quite figure out why. After all, it seems like, not just an excellent idea, but a [...]
Feb 11th, 2010
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
Stuck in Customs on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
Periodically, news stories send me into a panic. Do I need to order a truck load of face masks before that flu pandemic hits? Is that TSA security person going to have to strip search me now that some guy tried to smuggle [...]
Feb 8th, 2010
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
skinnylaminx on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
As I write this, I have a cup of tea beside me, and I am trying to get myself to drink it. I'm not hesitating because I don't like tea or because I think it will be unpleasant. I'm hesitating because I'm trying to drink it out [...]
Jan 17th, 2010
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
...-Wink-... on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
"How did you know?" my son Austen asked.
"Know what, buddy?" I asked. We had been talking about how a particular connector fit into a particular slot. This, along with batteries and speakers, is a particular fascination of Austen's lately. When we were watching the movie Alvin and [...]
Jan 15th, 2010
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
evilnick on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
Our family keeps a pretty rigorous schedule, with nearly every night of the week blocked out for some activity or another, but rather than shuttling between soccer games and dance practice, like many parents in our social group, we're shuttling between different 12 Step meetings.
So, a [...]
Nov 14th, 2009
by Mary P Jones.
"What am I going to say to people? I mean, they're going to ask, 'What are you doing these days?' and what am I supposed to do? I don't know how to make small talk anymore, let alone tell them what's been going on," I told my friend Jess after she met me [...]
Nov 12th, 2009
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
Scream 101 on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
There's a reason I'm not a journalist. It's one of those jobs you always think about, if you're one of those people (like me) who has considered careers in writing. But I always saw two problems with it: 1) I need to let things [...]
Nov 5th, 2009
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
Big Grey Mare on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
"Honey?" Mark has been putting the kids to sleep. I thought he'd fallen asleep with them, but now he pops his head into the living room. "Austen says his stomach hurts and he can't get to sleep. Can you come take a look and [...]
Nov 4th, 2009
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
Temari 09 on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
A year and a half ago, I posted a story about an autistic boy named Alex Barton, whose teacher had asked the other students to vote him out of his kindergarten class. Periodically, people write and ask what's up with Alex and how he's doing [...]
Sep 30th, 2009
by Mary P Jones.
Image credit: Photo by
samzie2006 on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
I woke up this morning, muscles clenched like a fist and throat tight with anxiety, wanting to grab my son and never let him go. I crept to where he was sleeping and ran my fingers through his curls, reassuring myself he was there and safe. [...]