“Nothing’s wrong!” So says my daughter’s voice, but her body language betrays her. Something about the glaring, stomping, creased-forehead, teary look tips me off. Rapid meltdowns are nothing new for…
Special Needs
Siblings Loving Siblings with Special Needs
“How come everyone is all excited when she finishes her math book, but nobody cares when I finish mine?” My son, age 11, struggled to get the words out, tears…
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…
Birds, Bees, and Family Dinner
“And that is how he proposed to her. Can you believe he knew six years before that he was going to marry her?” “How did he know?” “I don’t know….
“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…
Prosthetics
“Excuse me, but your daughter’s foot fell off,” the Sunday school teacher leaned over the row of seats and whispered in my husband’s ear. Sometimes having a child with special…
Autism and Teaching Discipline
When we relocated last year we were blessed to find an autism behavior specialist who agreed to work with Rachel. At first, though, I was nervous. The therapy discipline in…
Summer Haircuts, Cutting Remarks, and a Mom’s Scissored Heart
If your child has any sort of sensory issues, you probably shuddered when you saw “haircut.” You know how hard that is. For Rachel, with severe autism, apraxia, and a…
Fourth of July, Big Gatherings, and Autism
Another holiday filled with family, noise, and chaos looms ahead. While it can be fun, for Rachel and her autism it can also be problematic. We often don’t get invited…