While unloading Ryan from the van at a store, it is not unusual for someone to ask about our accessible van. The questions are always the same. How much did it cost, where did we get it, and did insurance pay for it? Next they proceed to tell me about the person in their life…
Of course not, you may have thought to yourself after reading the title of this post. My special needs mom worries never end either. But there’s a difference between your special needs mom worries and mine. You are most likely either raising a child with special needs under the age of 18 or caring for an…
You came near when I called on you; you said, “Do not fear!” Lamentations 3:57 Fear. It can take over your life. It can ruin everything in its path. It can divert you to safer areas. Well, you think they are safer. It can deny you so much. I have personally battled fear all my…
The internet can’t tell you how to feel, but it will sure try! Years ago, when I first found the sprawling online communities of people affected by autism, my head spun. I was behind on research, I realized. I hadn’t read the books, and I hadn’t yet formed the opinions. The battle lines were already…
I am no fan of New Year’s resolutions, or lists of resolutions, or actually most lists, at least in blog form (my wife’s to do lists are of course sacred). I have never been someone to make a resolution or several resolutions and try to stick to them throughout the year, and therefore I have…
“What’s Santa going to bring you this year?” My son turned sharply to the acquaintance who asked the question. Then he firmly said, “There’s no Santa.” “Yes, there is. You have to believe,” the person tried to persuade my son with no success. Believing is important, but not in the Santa scenario as my son so accurately…
There, we said it! It seems no matter where we go, our son Joey (age 37) becomes a magnet to many generous caring and loving people giving him free things! We are here to tell you that he very much enjoys the blessing, as do we. We’ve had friends and acquaintances on Facebook see things Joey enjoys…
We recently finished speaking for a Familylife Weekend to Remember and seemed to hear a common thread from others about what they heard from us as we spoke about our family and son with special needs. Several wrote us notes, private messages on FB, texts, and this one hand written note, “Your vulnerability and transparency…
I’ve been a reluctant caregiver most of my life, but didn’t realize it was a problem until after the birth of our first child. He was medically fragile for the first four years of his life, but his special needs weren’t the cause of my reluctance. In truth, I rose to the challenge whenever a…
He sat at his desk not moving. All his other friends were getting their backpacks ready and moving towards the classroom door. The teacher asked him to get up and go to his next class. He continued to sit there, but now had his head down on his desk. The teacher asked him again and…