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 [...]
Posts under ‘siblings’
Handling Things Differently Haikus
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.
My Kids Deal with Death
Image credit: Photo by two stout monks on Flickr Licensed under Creative Commons My daughter, Janie, found the body. Our pet* had been missing for a while, so at first she shouted to me excitedly. She found him! But when I ran to her, it was clear that he was already gone. She looked from [...]
Dumped
Image credit: Photo by odedgal on Flickr Licensed under Creative Commons Austen's babysitter quit. On the one hand, I don't blame her. Austen has the ability to terrorize his babysitters in a way he does no one else except delivery people, to whom he is like a very loud and aggressive dog; he wants none [...]
Human Habitrail Redux
Image credit: Photo by Sam Pullara on Flickr Licensed under Creative Commons Six months ago, my family spent an evening at an indoor play area with an overhead play structure that was a labyrinth of plastic tunnels ending in a slide. At the time, my son Austen was eager to climb up and try the [...]
Christmas Shopping with Austen
Image credit: Photo by jsc. on Flickr Licensed under Creative Commons Last night my son Austen and I went out shopping so he could pick out a Christmas gift for his sister Janie. He wavered between two different stuffed toys before settling on one he thought she would like. When we got to the register, [...]
Parenting Is Not Child’s Play
Before I had kids, I loved playing. At age 30, I owned a wide array of board games as well as a vast nerdly display of toys -- an X-Files Scully Barbie and Mulder Ken, Star Wars action figures, a poseable Godzilla and several favorite stuffed animals. I played regularly with my friends, and I [...]
One Step Forward for Hygiene, One Step Back for Finances
I have a weakness -- a big weakness -- for fancy soaps. My dermatologist has recommended that, given the amount of housework I do, my propensity for handwashing and the resulting state of my hands, I should use only the gentlest, fragrance free soaps. (Did you know that one can come down with a condition [...]
Stupid!
My children were watching a program on PBS the other day. It was one of those educational children's shows like Clifford and the Berenstain Bears and Calliou that are designed to teach good moral values: tell the truth, love one another, respect differences... This particular episode was intended to teach children how hurtful insults can [...]
A Halloween Miracle
Now I know, Halloween isn't usually a holiday one associates with miracles. But maybe it's the holiday on which miracles happen for heathens like me, or maybe it's just that miracles can happen at any time on any day, without any special occasions at all. I suppose sometimes miracles just happen. A miracle happened at [...]
