Image credit: Photo by
cproppe on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
We took the kids to a pool party at the home of some friends of mine recently. The hosts, as well as several guests, moved a fair drive away from us several years ago, and several more guests were visiting from out of town. As [...]
Two wet plastic balls:
Small neurotypical hand
grips both of them tight.
The summer sun shines
and cool water soothes her palms,
a welcome delight.
One wet plastic ball:
Autistic child's fingertips
touch it so lightly.
Water, tiny drops,
like so many small pin pricks,
are kept from his skin.
Image credit: Photo by
go to /theworldsaddress/ instead on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
I was looking through Austen's school papers this week and found an exercise he had done describing what things would be like if he ruled the world. He had filled in blanks to complete several sentences, one of which read: "If I ruled [...]
Image credit: Photo by
Jill Greenseth on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
I have a secret. I have been grieving over my children since, at times, before they were even born. Now that's not the way it's supposed to be, is it? I'm a mama, and mamas are supposed to be joy and love and [...]
Image credit: Photo by
max_thinks_sees on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
Mark and I were at a beach one day, years ago. It was autumn and the wind was blowing the chill salt air around us. I felt invigorated and happy, the way I always do when I can hear and smell the ocean, and as [...]
Image credit: Photo by
Omar Eduardo on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
As featured in the New York Times blog Motherlode
I
A mother and her son are in line at a grocery store. They boy looks like he’s about nine or ten. The mother looks a little tense as the boy starts to fidget in line. At this [...]
Image credit: Photo by
LarimdaME on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
This week a woman I knew in high school shared snapshots of her family at Halloween; she and her husband and a few other couples had gathered to take the kids out trick-or-treating. The adults were all smiling, dressed in matching thematic costumes, and the children [...]
Image credit: Photo byAnthony Cain on FlickrLicensed under Creative Commons
I'm glad the election here is over. I'm feeling a bit wiped out today. (Note to self: elections are exhausting, even when all you're doing is voting. This must be why the inauguration isn't until January; it makes for more effective government. [...]
Image credit: Photo by
Thomas Hawk on Flickr
Licensed under Creative Commons
I was feeling blah this morning and wondering what to write about when I read on Marla's blog that it's Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Awareness Month. If you are like our family, every month is SPD awareness month. In fact, we are actually so [...]
When Mark and I first started dating, he packed a romantic picnic lunch and took me on a hike to a secluded grassy field. He brought along a large soft blanket, flowers, china and silverware and all my favorite goodies lovingly prepared. He looked around long and hard to find the spot with [...]
