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When Normal Is the New Weird | Special Needs + Typical Parenting (Belonging Neither Here Nor There)
“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity Many of us hold dual citizenship: Card-carrying creds from the world of Special Needs parenting, and membership in the “normal” world of typically developing children (“Sibs.”) We occupy both...
read moreFatherhood, Hijacked | When Life Doesn’t Go According to Plan
In the world of Special Needs parenting, moms usually get all the press. Mom dukes it out at IEP’s. Moms rule the blogosphere. Moms march on Capitol Hill. And all those classical depictions of the Madonna? (The Virgin, not Like a Virgin) Nary a father to be seen. What about Dad? Where is he? What happened to him? Fatherhood, Hijacked This is how the birth of Jesus...
read moreOn Motherhood, Meals & Mayhem | Mother’s Day 2014
Breakfast of Chumpions One winter morning in 1988, I ran out the door on my way to school. I was late, per usual, so I skipped breakfast. High school seniors are too cool for breakfast anyway. My mother wasn’t having it. She chased me out to my car in her pajamas, and pressed a half-eaten SKOR bar and Coke into my hand. “Must eat something!” she insisted. A Coke and a candy...
read moreWhy I Don’t Mind Being a Dis-Abled Family in a Hyper-Abled World: Part 2
Today’s post: A continuation from Part One, “Why I Don’t Mind Being a Dis-Abled Family in a Hyper-Abled World.” The Snack Shack A few weeks after we moved in, Justin set up a Snack Shack in the garage to “sell” free Otter Pops. It was more a ploy to help him meet and make friends with the neighborhood kids (who all seemed to know each...
read moreWhy I Don’t Mind Being a Dis-Abled Family in a Hyper-Abled World: Part 1
In the last nine years post diagnosis, our family has made three significant moves to new school districts or cities. Each move was driven primarily by Jeremy’s schooling needs. In this regard, perhaps we’re no different from many modern families. After an extraordinary run of six years at our last school district, I thought we’d never experience such marvelous...
read moreWhy This Special Needs Tiger Mama Bear Didn’t Intervene
There are helicopter parents, then there are Special Needs parent stealth bombers. How this Asian Special Needs Tiger Mama Bear (I know. That’s a lot of mixed metaphors) nearly became a weapon of mass destruction and ravaged a playground when her cub got threatened. Why I didn’t intervene. ******************************************** It was a classic Special Needs Mama Bear...
read moreFaith Through Disappointment – Part 2: GET HELP
In the previous post, I began a four-part series, “Faith through Disappointment.” Of the Four Gets, the first was to Get REAL (giving ourselves permission to grieve or get angry.) The series continues with the second Get: Get HELP. ************************************************************** 2) GET HELP – Be willing to receive/ask for help Asking for help...
read more“Who me, a Special Needs Parent? I’m the wrong person for this kid!”
My mother often laments how I am such a LOUD girl. When we’re on the phone, she typically asks me to turn down my volume. Or better yet, speak about a foot away from the mouthpiece. She’s perplexed how such a small person (I stand 4 feet 11 and 3/4 inches) could emit such a big, booming sound. Especially for an Asian daughter, it’s considered unbecoming and uncouth....
read moreTiger Mom: Special Needs Edition
Author Amy Chua’s book created a firestorm in the parenting community and blogosphere, adding a new battle-chapter to the ongoing Mommy Wars. But as a parent to a child with autism, I know there are many of us who also drive our children through (and to) extreme or excessive therapies. Why? Because, “I know what’s best for my child.” OT, ABA, RDI, DIR, PRT, B12 shots,...
read moreA Tribute To “Supermoms”
“So, what do you do?” I never really know how to answer this question. I usually end up lamely saying, “I don’t work. I’m just a mom.” As if. I was raised to believe I was destined for significant and remarkable things in this world. When I became a Christian, I transferred that belief into doing even greater things for the Kingdom of God. Then autism...
read moreUnbroken Faith
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