Category Archives: Autism

The Importance of a Thumb
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Posted on February 12, 2015 by

I haven’t been here for over a month because back in December 2014, I managed to get a nasty infection in my right thumb. How? I’m not sure. Was it the crab I cracked (and scratched myself with)? Was it … Continue reading →

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Storm Clouds Overhead
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Posted on December 18, 2014 by

I just finished reading Claire Bidwell Smith’s memoir, The Rules of Inheritance. I read it straight through in two days—a feat which rarely happens anymore in my hectic life. This is even more incredible because the book was not a … Continue reading →

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How Writing Resembles Dating
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Posted on December 4, 2014 by

I’ve joked before that writing and dating have a lot in common. Both require a thick skin, an embracing of rejection as part of the process. For some reason I accepted this easily with respect to my writing. I send … Continue reading →

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Sneaking Candy
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Posted on November 20, 2014 by

I don’t know if this is something I should admit, but my daughter Katie is getting sneaky. Because she has autism and I don’t have any typically functioning children, I’m often unsure if Katie’s behavior is due to her diagnosis … Continue reading →

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Mr. Mike
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Posted on November 6, 2014 by

When my daughter Katie switched to yet another school district back in February 2013, she once again was slated to ride the special needs “short bus.” The two school districts, however, didn’t share bus service, so after a month of … Continue reading →

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Camp Loma Mar, Part 2
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Posted on October 23, 2014 by

For a week Katie and I practiced showering and using a sleeping bag. We talked about camp. We practiced greeting strangers. We labeled and packed clothes. We assembled the required gear. I read her social stories. The night before camp, … Continue reading →

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Camp Loma Mar, Part 1
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Posted on October 16, 2014 by

Last week my daughter Katie went to outdoor education camp with her 5th grade classmates. Such a simple statement. But for a child with autism, nothing is ever as simple as it seems, and Camp Loma Mar was no exception. … Continue reading →

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How The Worst Moments in Our Lives Make Us Who We Are
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Posted on October 7, 2014 by

Welcome to another Tuesday with TED. Today we have writer Andrew Solomon. Solomon writes about politics, culture, and psychology and has spent his career telling stories of the hardships of others. His 2012 book, Far From the Tree: Parents, Children, and the … Continue reading →

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Tailgating at Stanford
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Posted on October 2, 2014 by

As I mentioned last week, I attended a  football game at Stanford University. Michael 2.0 offered me tickets to the Stanford versus U.C. Davis game and I thought it would be fun, even though I knew in all likelihood, Davis … Continue reading →

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First Day of School
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Posted on August 21, 2014 by

It’s August and moms across the country are posting smiling photos of their children going back to school. Some post “before”and “after” shots: their child at the start of kindergarten, and now, at the start of middle school, high school, … Continue reading →

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