Today I’m still reveling in hearing the words “I love you, Mommy” from E for the first time. I’ve been riding that high for a week now. It has me thinking: W...

There are good days and bad days as a parent, and that holds true for special needs parents as well. But sometimes a day that starts out as a bad day can tu...

“E is just weaker in certain areas at this point, or maybe I should say not as fully developed.” My back stiffens. I am in a meeting at E’s school with two s...

When I was a child there was a television cartoon called “Super Friends” that included a brother and sister team called the “Wonder Twins.” I used to love wh...

The first day of school means excitement, anticipation, concern, and anxiety … and that’s just for the parents. Today we will find out what it means for E, b...

Rest is something I’ve struggled with for a long time. I don’t sit still well. I don’t enjoy watching movies because two hours is too long to sit in one plac...

On the morning of September 11, 2001, I was at work in my office on the 5th floor of the Department of Justice, in downtown Washington, DC. I remember in viv...

If only I’d had a sounding board. Another mom who knew the signs. Someone who could have helped me spot that E’s lack of words, food aversions and sensory se...

In a few short months E will start kindergarten. Like every parent whose first child is about to start school, I’m struggling with fears over how he will do ...

Last night before bed E came clomping into the kitchen in his pajamas, wearing Daddy’s sneakers. I grabbed my phone and snapped a picture just fast enough to...

Last night at bedtime, after we read a story and said our prayers, I spent a few extra minutes sitting on E’s bed with him. Like he does every night, he made...

We moved here to north Texas about 18 months ago, a matter of weeks before our daughter was born. Those first few months were really hard – new place, no fri...

As a little girl I dreamt about being an actress. Actresses always seemed so confident, so fearless and strong. For a shy child like me, their confidence was...

It snowed last night, a rare occurrence here in north Texas. We awoke to the view of a pristine white blanket covering our neighborhood, camouflaging the fro...

Some days I wake up and feel like I can conquer the day. Today is not one of those days. Last night my anxiety-ridden mind would not shut down. I made the mi...

The holiday season is upon us. As we continue our quest to find our new normal, the rhythm of life moves on. Holiday gifts to buy, food to cook, friends and ...

It’s November 19th. Our sixth wedding anniversary. It snuck up on me this year. Thanksgiving is in a few days, too. Normally by this point I would have the m...

It is 5am and I’m driving through dense fog on my way to the airport. The fog is fitting. It’s a perfect picture of how my head feels today. The first day si...

E is in boot camp. That’s what it feels like anyway. For nearly three hours yesterday he endured a thorough evaluation by a speech therapist. “To establish a...

He’s been feeding off my stress these last few weeks. E has always been so sensitive to my moods, even as a baby. Today, his actions are a reflection of my e...