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50th Birthday Acceptance Across An Aqueous Moon: Travels in Autism Adoption Advocacy Anger Anxiety Art Authenticity Autism Behavioral Issues Change Creativity Dating Divorce Expectations Family Fear Finishing Line Press Gratitude Holidays IEPs Letting Go Memoir Milestones Open Mind School Parenting Poet Laureate Poetry Rapid Prompting Method RPM Sensory Integration Shame Single Parent Social skills Soma RPM Special Education Special Needs Speech Delay Story The Blank Canvas Blog Hop Transitions Truth Unplanned Life Writing Life
Author Archives: Cynthia J. Patton
Do Not Open Until Christmas
Once again the holidays are upon us. It’s time to plan a trip to see my daughter’s birthparents. Yes, you read that correctly. Her birthparents. My ex-husband and I chose to do what is called an open adoption. This is … Continue reading
Posted in Adoption, My Life
Tagged Adoption, Divorce, Family, Holidays, Open Adoption, Unplanned Life
4 Comments
The Best of Times … And the Worst
From the outset, my daughter was a gorgeous, easy baby. She gurgled contentedly in her bouncy seat and slept through the night at four weeks. I stared into her blue eyes and she was dazzling as the sun. My husband … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Autism, Depression, Diagnosis, Milestones, Speech Delay, Unplanned Life
6 Comments
Aiming for the Sky
When my daughter Katie was four and using two-word phrases, someone asked how I handled the shame. I stared at her, confused. I’ve never felt shame over Katie’s autism. Sorrow of course, but never shame. My mother says I’d feel … Continue reading
Posted in Adoption, Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Adoption, Anger, Autism, Divorce, Shame, Unplanned Life
2 Comments
The Birth of an Unplanned Life
Back in high school I’d curl up and read John Muir. I wanted to be like him, but with better food and a tent. I wanted to tramp in the wilderness and call it a job. I wanted to speak … Continue reading
Posted in Adoption, Autism, My Life
Tagged Adaptive Horseback Riding, Adoption, Autism, Divorce, Expectations, Unplanned Life
1 Comment
New Workshop: Introduction to Special Needs Advocacy
Are you having trouble working through school district bureaucracy to secure the services your special child needs? Do you know a family who is? To help parents of children with autism and other special needs, I’ve created The Autism A to Z Workshop Series. … Continue reading
