Blog Posts
Burgeoning Blossoms
Looking up, I noticed small buds on a tree about to pop with white blossoms in the middle of February, and a squirrel scritch-scratched his way along a still-bare branch. It glanced at me as if to say ‘so you’re here, too, enjoying this taste of spring.’ As I flipped open the laptop, I heard a grunting noise that grew [...]
Rooted in Faith
by Keri Horon Heavy yet holding On thin spindly branches A dewdrop born Of bulky sopping air Dangles […]
Starfish Country
Pacing pausing Numb impatience While heat beat down Asphalt earth below my shoes You Shoeless Stood barred behind chainlink […]
Rooting for Zach
“Look at that,” she said. “It’s bad. It probably needs to come out.” My stomach lurched. Out? Needing to remain calm for him, I anchored my feet and took a deep breath. Zach was reclined on the chair, still holding his mouth wide open. “Yes. Or, maybe we try a root canal first.” Her eyes looked serious but [...]
Elsa
When Walt Disney Pictures released their 53rd animated feature film, Frozen, in 2013, we pretty much ignored it. I was intrigued by the connection to Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale "The Snow Queen," but not enough to pay for movie tickets. Years later, a weekend stay at the Hilton Orange County brought Frozen to the forefront of my family's life. [...]
Don’t Give Me the Finger!
As I raised the blinds in my son’s bedroom the other morning, I noticed his arm stretch out from beneath the blanket. His sleepy eyes looked at me – rather, at my clothes – and one periscope-like finger pointed in my direction. I would have thought the finger-pointing meant close the blinds, Mom, I’m still asleep, except I knew exactly [...]
Zipping Through Milestones
Milestones. One might say these are roadside markers measuring distance. Another might think of significant events in life: a graduation, the start of a new job. And still others may define milestones in the context of a baby's developmental steps. In fact, monitoring milestones is one way to consider the possibility of an underlying developmental issue. Parents of special needs [...]
No More Taters, Tot!
Going to the grocery store became a highly preferred activity for my son when he was younger. It was surprising, because he experienced difficulties in places that were too bright, too loud, too chaotic. We realized he was a foodie, and then it made perfect sense why he adored the market. […]
If At First You Don’t Succeed…
(First appeared on VestLife blog) The other day, my son and I were in a store, and he was helping the cashier by putting our items in a bag. One slipped. The clerk said, “Ooops! Try again!” And I cringed. I glanced over at Zach, fearing some kind of reaction. I readied myself to calm him. Fortunately for all, he [...]
Sequins and Sharks
(Originally appeared on the VestLife blog) It feels like yesterday, but it wasn’t. My son and I were doing some browsing around at a San Francisco shopping plaza. It looked like rain was coming, so I had an umbrella. I also carried a very loaded-up backpack. Special needs parents go places prepared for almost anything! After a visit to F.A.O. [...]
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