Back in my teens, my high school stopped offering home economy classes. No one wanted to take them. Why? Most young women believed home ec was for unambitious girls who…
Jennifer Dyer
Jennifer Dyer has an M.S. in Communications Disorders, which served her well in her professional career as a speech-language pathologist. Never did she imagine that her education and career were God’s way of preparing her to be a mom to her own daughter with autism. Today, she enjoys reaching out to other families who face similar diagnoses. As a cancer survivor, carpet-cleaning veteran, and originator of the “Messy House Ministry,” Jennifer feels blessed to share joy, peace, and humor with others facing life’s challenges. She and her IT genius husband Brandon have been married since 1998.
Dinnertime, Autism, and the Reality of my Not-Picture-Perfect Life
Just after Rachel (my daughter on the autism spectrum) turned two, she started climbing on the dining room table. Once standing on the surface, she would stomp around and boogie….
Teaching My Child to Avoid Idolatry
The notion of idolatry sometimes seems like a foreign, Old Testament concept, yet it’s all around us. And I’m not only referring to worshiping statues. The other day Eldest turned on one…
6 More Steps to Disciplining Without Anger
Sometimes we must discipline–shepherd–our children. A person without discipline is like a wild dog—feral, isolated, and out of balance. So, it is necessary to administer discipline, but the key is to do it without anger. Here are six steps to disciplining without anger.
Lead With Grace, Don’t Chase With Anger
This morning, as I walked Rachel into school, I heard one of the teachers yelling as she worked the carpool line. On and on she griped that several children neglected…
Sex Without Walls: 6 Steps to Rebuilding Your Intimate Life
A friend with a steamy married life (but not without conflict), recently remarked that our late 30s through our 50s should be the sexual peak of our lives. “What? Aren’t…
Romancing the Soul: What I’ve Learned as a Parent of an Autistic Child
Romance is in the air—at least according to the grocery store isle. Valentine’s candy and gifts fill every available space. So, I’ve been contemplating: What is romance? My following conclusion…
“Stop Judging Me!” 5 Ways to Overcome When Others Judge Your Child with Special Needs
When out with Rachel, my daughter with autism, I’ve been stared at and judged more times than I can count. She has stripped naked in public, held screaming tantrums, had huge tangles…
Therapy and Mom: Rethinking My Role in God’s Eyes
While attending a continuing education session for my speech-language pathology license, I was struck by how intimately the divine hand of God works in all things, especially Rachel’s life. Almost…
Christmas, Special Needs, and Surviving Gatherings
It’s the Christmas season again. Time to get out the decorations, visit with family and prepare for tantrums, stripping naked, and for asking to go home as soon as we…