2018-04-27 10:30
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
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2018-04-26 10:45
Forecast for the opening day of Sesame Place this Sunday: Sunny day, clouds swept away...and autism friendly. Earlier this month, it became the first theme park in the world to be designated… Read More
2018-04-25 15:22
I saw the tearful Facebook live video posted by blogger Dena Blizzard last week after she'd been to her daughter's IEP, and my heart went out to her. She wanted her daughter, who has le… Read More
2018-04-24 10:40
"My baby had an intracranial bleed at some point when I was pregnant, and the brain damage was very large in the MRI image the geneticist showed to us," writes one mom. "At five months old h… Read More
2018-04-23 12:25
Ben's been going to the same music class that Max went to at his age. Last week, Max had a school break and our sitter ended up taking both of them. She sent me an amazing video of Max.Max w… Read More
2018-04-20 10:30
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2018-04-19 15:04
Years ago, as we were headed home from Disney World, Dave and I stood by the security line at the airport with Max and Sabrina, unsure of what to do. The line was extensively long, the kind… Read More
2018-04-18 10:37
One Sunday morning, the warm sun came up and there, in his crib, was a very hungry toddler.He ate some cookies and one half of a chicken nugget with the coating rubbed off and half a bottle… Read More
2018-04-17 10:41
"I hope she feels better!" Max is saying into the phone. He's talking to a relative who has an ailing mom. I can hear the man saying, "What, Max? What?"And so I lean over and say into the sp… Read More
2018-04-16 10:43
I visited an old friend in Chicago this weekend with Sabrina, and saw a couple of people I hadn't seen since my twenties, before I had kids. This sort of thing is both fun and freaky, becaus… Read More
2018-04-13 10:30
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2018-04-12 10:39
I saw my friend Stephanie in our office building recently, and as we compared notes about raising teens I griped about Sabrina stealing my beauty products. I don't wear much makeup but I hav… Read More
2018-04-11 10:42
Max has a perfectionist streak. He notices when stuff is out of place in the house or there are crumbs on the dining room floor. This also applies when he does his homework on the SnapType a… Read More
2018-04-10 13:40
Dear God,Max got off the school bus yesterday and when I said "Hi, Max!" from the porch he sneered at me. Then he stomped down the walkway and when I gave him a hand to help him up the stair… Read More
2018-04-09 10:44
I'm not usually overcome with emotion when I go to Home Depot, but that's what happened this weekend. Sabrina and I were down at the Jersey Shore on a girls' trip, and as she was taking a na… Read More
2018-04-06 10:30
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2018-04-05 18:25
During my pregnancy with Ben, I wondered about several things: How would Dave and I deal with sleep deprivation as not-so-new parents? How would we manage three children? What would happen w… Read More
2018-04-04 10:42
Yesterday I signed Max up for an upcoming Sunday event for youth with disabilities, run by university students. It's a carnival, with arts and crafts, games, movies and performances. A… Read More
2018-04-03 10:43
I have basically eaten my lifetime supply of carbs these past few days since Passover began (which is basically how I feel every year), the reason for my carb coma. So today I am just going… Read More
2018-04-02 10:40
Every Passover, when we have our first seder (the traditional meal), read the haggadah (the telling of the story of the exodus from Egypt) and get to the part about the four types of childre… Read More
2018-03-29 15:22
I had one of those days yesterday when having to advocate for Max weighed heavily on me. It's not that I don't have to push for stuff for Sabrina, but Max has some specific needs which lead… Read More
2018-03-28 10:40
There's an emoji for nearly everything on our phones...except ones representing disabilities. Apple's hoping to change that: The company issued a proposal this month requesting the addition… Read More
2018-03-27 10:40
It still happens: Every so often, I have one of those "Look how far he's come!" moments. It happened this weekend.Max likes to chill by watching videos of fire trucks on YouTube—typica… Read More
2018-03-26 12:26
I'm pretty sure I'd never bring home an accordion for my kids.That thought ran through my head as Sabrina and I watched a tango performance this weekend. Her violin teacher was playing, and… Read More
2018-03-23 10:30
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2018-03-22 12:06
This post is by Colorado mom and advocate Susan Osborn Hoyt, a mom of two with a third on the way. She writes Amazing Gracie, a blog about her family and parenting a child with a rare d… Read More
2018-03-21 10:35
In honor of World Down Syndrome Day, a group of moms in England created the video Wouldn't Change A Thing, and it's gone viral. The moms—all part of the Facebook group Design… Read More
2018-03-20 10:45
The parent-teacher conference was, overall, very good. Max's therapists were in attendance, and there was consensus that overall Max is a cheerful, enthusiastic, determined student. "Every c… Read More
2018-03-19 17:36
On Saturday, we celebrated Sabrina's bat mitzvah. It was a beautiful day. Sabrina was so confident and poised at the service she lead—and aced—in the morning. Max did his part op… Read More
2018-03-16 13:18
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2018-03-15 10:38
After last week's snowstorm, Sabrina made a snowman on our deck. I loved seeing her acting like a giddy kid again, given her cool teen existence.I noticed, however, that the snowman was miss… Read More
2018-03-14 16:39
Sabrina's school recently sent an email about this morning's walkout by students across America, to protest gun violence. The school wanted all students interested in participating to join i… Read More
2018-03-13 13:42
"Let's go out to breakfast!" Dave said yesterday. I was off of work, and I'd just dropped Ben off at preschool.But I had so much to do: Sabrina's bat mitzvah—her coming-of-age service… Read More
2018-03-12 10:43
As all parents know, perfection is pretty much impossible when you have children, no matter what Instagram and Pinterest will have you believe. We all have to let go—of our ideas of wh… Read More
2018-03-09 11:30
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2018-03-08 11:38
At Ben's last pediatrician checkup, when he turned 2, I confessed that we were still giving him a bottle and worried about whether we were destining him for braces. It's just one bottle at n… Read More
2018-03-07 11:40
"Is that Max?" Dave asked.It was around 11:00 and we were in the living room. Sure enough, Max was saying something from upstairs. Dave went first, then yelled for me.Max had thrown up… Read More
2018-03-06 11:40
I found some videos this weekend of Max, when he was 4. One thing stood out: Max looked great, a cute, bright-eyed, exuberant little boy.I showed the videos to Dave without saying anything&m&hell…Read More
2018-03-05 11:45
Makeup and HairstylingFiremon Max in JamaicaLive Action Short FilmThe first time Max gave his baby brother a bathActress in a Supporting RoleMe, holding it together as Max graduated elementa… Read More
2018-03-02 12:01
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2018-03-01 14:50
"You remind me of my wife," the pediatric neurologist told me. "She's always taking notes." We were in a conference room in the NICU a few days after Max was born, and I was furiously scribb… Read More
2018-02-28 11:45
The good news about the flu: The number of cases in the U.S. are starting to decline for the first time, according to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C… Read More
2018-02-27 11:40
My dream of independence for Max contains many dreams—that someday, he'll dress himself, prepare meals for himself, make plans for himself, get himself places. The list goes on. Whatev… Read More
2018-02-26 11:42
A couple of years ago around this time, I was told by a speech therapist I respected that she didn't see a point in continuing to work with Max on his articulation. She felt that a communica… Read More
2018-02-23 11:30
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2018-02-22 14:53
I woke up yesterday with that funny feeling in your throat that says, "This isn't bad now but just you wait." Soon after Ben—who'd crashed in our bed—got up, then decided to sit… Read More
2018-02-21 14:12
I've joked here before about being thrilled when Max acts in a so-called "age appropriate" way. "Age-appropriate" doesn't really apply when you have a child with disabilities, and you mostly… Read More
2018-02-20 11:40
Embed from Getty ImagesThe nightmare started as I'd guess many parents' do: a faceless gunman was stalking the halls of my son's school, hovering outside the locked doors of classrooms. He g… Read More
2018-02-16 11:30
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2018-02-15 11:35
There's been a photo circulating recently of the pope standing besides a little girl with Down syndrome and holding her hand as he reads from a paper. Mostly, this has been a Good Thing for… Read More
2018-02-14 13:44
"I put a new zipper pull on Max's coat," the email said. I read it on the train last night as I was en route home from work, and it made me seriously glad.Max's occupational therapist at sch… Read More
2018-02-13 15:42
Yesterday, Max came home from school with this lovely doily. I found it in his backpack after he'd gone to sleep.Among the stuff that rates higher than me on his list of beloved things:1) Ma… Read More
2018-02-12 14:49
Last weekend, I got a notice about a new change.org petition. Cynthia DeStefano, who has a daughter with disabilities was asking Costco to get Caroline's Cart, a modified shopping cart that… Read More
2018-02-09 11:30
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2018-02-08 16:50
Lucas Warren, 18 months old, made history this month when he became the first tot with disabilities to be chosen as the Gerber Baby. Since the company was founded in 1928, parents have been… Read More
2018-02-07 11:38
Max is still planning to move to Jamaica, a situation I somewhat consider a fail on our part. I've tried my best to reason with him—he loves his school here, Daddy and Mommy have jobs… Read More
2018-02-06 11:40
They won't cause cavities or a sugar high, yet their insides are sweet and satisfying. I'm talking about these 15 great new (and new-ish) books about love, perfect for a Valentine's Day gift… Read More
2018-02-05 14:37
Recently, a doctor who cares for children with life-limiting illnesses asked some what they've enjoyed in life and what gave it meaning. He then posted a string of responses from the kids, a… Read More
2018-02-02 11:30
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2018-02-01 13:26
Sometimes, when I think about all that I do as a mother, I feel _______[adjective]. I mean, every day I wake up at _______ [insanely early hour]and spend the next _______ [number] minutes at… Read More
2018-01-31 11:42
The following is an excerpt from Perfectly Human, a beautiful new memoir by Joseph Dutkowsky, MD. Dr. D, as he is known, is an orthopedic surgeon and a past president of the American Academy… Read More
2018-01-30 11:38
A father and son are driving down a highway. Suddenly, they get into a horrible collision and the father is killed. The son is rushed to the hospital. The surgeon looks down at the boy on th… Read More
2018-01-29 11:39
We lucked out this weekend: the loaner car given to us by the repair shop while our car was being fixed got a flat tire. It happened while Dave and Max were out, not far from the house, so t… Read More
2018-01-26 11:30
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2018-01-25 11:30
"I have one question, and it's a biggie," writes a reader. "HOW do you deal with a relative who insists that your child's special needs will 'pass' and that he'll develop on his own and that… Read More
2018-01-24 15:56
What's the most excluded group of Americans, and possibly the most misunderstood? It's the 6.5 million who have intellectual disability. If you're the parent of a child with ID, then you kno… Read More
2018-01-23 17:46
Last week, I saw Screenagers, a documentary about teens and screen time. It was an illuminating and disturbing look at the profound impact iPhones, video games and other screen sucks have on… Read More
2018-01-22 16:42
"I called it!" Dave said.We were at the bar mitzvah of a friend's son this weekend, attending as a family. Max had sat through a good part of the ceremony. He enjoyed the cocktail hour, down… Read More
2018-01-18 13:09
Ben's mini vibrating toothbrush broke the other day, tragic because one of his favorite activities is walking around and chewing on it. I had a cute Crayola one handy and gave it to him last… Read More
2018-01-17 13:24
Max kept telling me something last night at bedtime, but I wasn't quite getting what he was saying—it was about going somewhere on Friday with Daddy. So I grabbed my phone and he typed… Read More
2018-01-16 11:50
Sunday evening, Sabrina was roaming around the mall with friends and Dave took Max and Ben out for dinner. I had the house to myself. This was an incredible gift.I love my family. I also ser… Read More
2018-01-12 11:30
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2018-01-11 15:11
I dashed home from work recently to take Ben to a preschool party at our temple. Sabrina was at a basketball game, Dave had to work late, Max was hanging home with a sitter and it was just u… Read More
2018-01-10 11:40
Max at bedtime: "Ben, give me a kiss!"Ben: "NO!"* * * * *Ben: "Trains!" as he grabs the TV remote control.Max: "Fire trucks!" as he grabs the remote control.Ben: "Trains!"Etc. etc. etc.* * *… Read More
2018-01-09 17:17
"Oh, wow, he can read!" the woman commented.We were in Jamaica at our hotel's coffee bar. Max had been scrolling the web on my iPhone for homes in Jamaica, given that he wanted to move there… Read More
2018-01-08 11:40
Max was plenty excited in the car ride yesterday to see Disney on Ice. He'd been wanting to see it and when my friend Peg reached out about going as a group, we were in. Then we got there an… Read More
2018-01-05 11:31
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2018-01-04 16:07
The reason Max now wants to move to Jamaica: Our amazing stay at the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall resort in Montego Bay. Dave and I got some time to chill; Ben and Sabrina had their fill of wat… Read More
2018-01-03 14:55
On our vacation in Jamaica last week at the Hyatt Ziva Rose Hall, Sabrina and I went to an evening show; Max and Ben had crashed. The MC invited kids up on stage to play musical chairs, and… Read More
2018-01-02 11:40
Max is moving to Jamaica. He's been telling us this for the last few days; it started right before we headed home. We'd had a wonderful vacation, and none of us were eager to return to 14-de… Read More
2017-12-30 02:11
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2017-12-27 11:35
It's time, once again, to look back on the year's highlights, whoas, uh-ohs, milestones, inchstones and everything in between.In January, Max helped his little brother learn to walk and… Read More
2017-12-26 11:40
This guest post is by Jane Kim, an immigration attorney, writer and mom of a five-year-old with autism. She lives in the Philadelphia suburbs and, she says, "I can often be seen chasing afte… Read More
2017-12-22 11:30
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2017-12-21 12:38
"Two times!" Max said, shooting me a look. We were standing in the kitchen after he got home from school and I'd again reminded him to give the holiday present to his occupational therapist… Read More
2017-12-20 11:40
As much as I'd like to take Ben's entire train set with us when we're traveling during the holidays (he's obsessed), it's obviously not happening. I was getting anxious about entertaining hi… Read More
2017-12-19 14:49
"I would not change you for the world, but I will change the world for you." Mom/entrepreneur Amy Wright said that onstage the other night as she accepted CNN's Hero of the Year Award, speak… Read More
2017-12-18 11:45
This post is by Max, as dictated to me. I went to Las Vegas, Nevada on Thursday, December 7 for four days. I went with Daddy and Grandpa Michael.We stayed at the New York-New York… Read More
2017-12-15 11:30
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2017-12-14 11:45
Hey Eminem I finally heard Walk on Water, your new songHear me out, now don't get me wrongWhen you rappedGod's given me all thisStill I feel no different regardlessKids look to me like a god… Read More
2017-12-13 11:38
Max headed to the pediatrician's last night for his annual checkup. He's perfectly fine with going there. I, of course, remember the meltdowns he used to have in the waiting room when he was… Read More
2017-12-12 17:32
1. How could someone not have noticed they scattered sprinkles all over the kitchen floor when they downed a slice of leftover birthday cake? OK, technically, the sprinkles are mostly by the… Read More
2017-12-11 18:34
Yesterday was Max's 15th birthday. Fifteen years of the cuteness, brightness, determination, stubbornness, brightness, charm, curiosity and cheerfulness that is Max.When he had a strok… Read More
2017-12-08 11:30
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2017-12-07 12:51
The napkins were waiting for me on the counter yesterday when I got home from work. I'd been so excited to see them."Max, are you going to help make these for Sabrina?" I asked."Yes!" he sai… Read More
2017-12-06 11:45
The list returns, back by popular demand! Dave is just as neurotic about Ben as he was two years ago! Max is obsessed! Sabrina won't get off her phone and is critical! Ben is talking! Nobody… Read More
2017-12-05 11:43
Me: "Ben, give Max a kiss good night!"Ben: "No!"This is typically how bedtime goes at our house, and how Ben and Max often interact. At two years old, Ben likes to tease Max. Dave thinks it'… Read More
2017-12-04 11:45
The school bus showed up the other week as Ben was having a meltdown. Typically, our sitter, Dave or I have walked Max out to the bus in the mornings. From our house to the curb is not far… Read More
2017-12-01 11:30
What to do if you're new hereThis is a place to share a recent favorite post you've written, or read. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post. Where it says "Your name" put t… Read More
2017-11-30 11:38
Stem cell therapy can help children with cerebral palsy, finds the results of a clinical trial at Duke University. It involved 63 children with CP, ages one to six years old, who were infuse… Read More
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