My son, Jackie, plays basketball and it’s no wonder. By eighth grade he was towering over his peers at six feet. He’s great at shooting the ball, but lacks the agility to move around his opponents. It has to be …
A Message to the Mum Sitting Across From You Today
I saw you today. Everyone was staring at you caring for your child. Sitting so close to his well-positioned wheelchair, you kissed his forehead, wiped his face, kept him calm and held him tight when he became anxious. I see …
“What’s Wrong With That Boy?” 6 Tips for Talking to Your Kids About Disabilities
“Daddy, what’s wrong with that boy?” the little girl asked. I knew she noticed my son Joey, an amazing little boy who just happens to have Down syndrome. He also developed alopecia a few years ago, leaving him with no …
Courage to Have ‘The Talk’
It started like every other night. The same instructions had been given. The same arguments had been repeated. We sat down and pulled open the devotion book, but we never read past the date – April 2nd. I hesitantly asked …
Autism and Play
Children with autism often display a wide range of different ability levels and characteristics, and may be challenged with more structured learning processes. Game play can provide a safe environment for children with autism to learn new skills. A number …
Celebrate the Little Things
I practically came out of the womb with a to-do list in my hand. So with Will, my first child, I attacked things such as potty training and teaching him to dress himself with the precision of a special operations …
Happy Holidays with Special Kiddos
Ah, Christmas. A time to visit friends and family, to see Santa, to shop… and if you’re a mom, a time to pull your hair out from stress. The Christmas season can be hard on moms. And over the past …
An Open Letter to Myself
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. I’ve been pondering this since the first of the month. What should people be aware of? What do I wish I had known before Roo was born—or even in those first days and weeks …
I Think You Should Know
Hello, Darling Sometimes I’m afraid to post too much about Roo. I don’t want to just be the “special needs mom,” just like I want Roo to be viewed as more than a “special needs kid.” But sometimes I feel …