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Tag Archives: Acceptance
In a Sky Full of Stars
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the stars. Maybe it’s because the crowd funding campaign that I implemented for the Eastbay Astronomical Society (EAS) recently came to a successful conclusion. We raised more than $26,000 for Phase I of … Continue reading
Posted in My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Authenticity, Creativity, EAS, Eastbay Astronomical Society, Stars, Unplanned Life
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The Downside of Facebook
Some days I scroll through my news feed on Facebook and see countless photos of my smiling friends and their cheerful, well-adjusted, successful children. (Of course, appearances may be deceiving, but still, it all looks good in the photo.) I … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Autism, Facebook, Gratitude, Milestones, Single Parent, Special Needs, Unplanned Life
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Embracing Fire
I’ve written before that I’m an Aries, which is a fire sign, born in the Year of the Dragon (more fire). I’m also a rare INTJ in Meyers-Briggs terminology, which Newstrology converts to a dragon (still more fire). Could the … Continue reading
Posted in Creativity, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Aries, Authenticity, Aveda, Creativity, Energy, Fire, Meyers-Briggs, Newstrology, Passion, Power, pure-fume, Shame, Transformation, Unplanned Life, Writing Life
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Contemplating the Future
There are things that parents of children with autism simply have to accept–whether they like it or not. Some things are easier to tolerate than others. For example, my daughter will never pepper me with annoying, incessant questions, talk too … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Autism, Letting Go, Milestones, Sensory Integration, Special Education, Speech Delay, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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Late Bloomers
It’s a sad truth, but kids on the spectrum don’t often get invited to parties, birthday or otherwise. Over the years I’ve grown used to this difficult state of affairs–even as it continued to frustrate and sadden me. These children … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Autism, Birthdays, Family, Gratitude, Milestones, Parties, Unplanned Life
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Welcome to Summer School, Part 2
Victoria never did call back. Nor did anyone from the Pleasanton School District, although a district staff person recognized Katie and brought her to her classroom. “Immediately,” the teacher would emphasize later. “They brought her to me immediately.” Yeah, but … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Fear, Letting Go, Special Needs, Speech Delay, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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Second Guest Post on Monday Coffee
The multi-talented Liz Whiteacre asked me to do another guest post for the Monday Coffee and Other Stories of Mothering Children with Special Needs website and blog. If you remember, I had a story published in the Monday Coffee anthology back in … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life, News, Other Writers, Publications
Tagged Acceptance, Anger, Autism, Autism Awareness, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Raising Kids on the Spectrum, Comparison, Fear, Grace, Monday Coffee and Other Stories of Mothering Children with Special Needs, Reading, Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew, Tyann Sheldon Rouw, Unplanned Life, Writing Life
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Some Thoughts on Luck (And Other Stuff)
As Saint Patrick’s Day approaches, I’ve been thinking a lot about luck. Most people think it’s incredibly unlucky that after eight years of infertility, my ex and I adopted a baby girl who turned out to have autism spectrum disorder—a … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Adoption, Autism, Change, Diversity, Divorce, Expectations, Family, Gratitude, Infertility, Loss, Love, Luck, Parenting, Single Parent, St Patrick's Day, Unplanned Life
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I’m Sorry If I Scare You
I recently read a post on Brevity’s blog that was titled, “I’m Sorry You Scare Me.” Brevity, for those of you that don’t know, is a literary journal that focuses on flash (very short) nonfiction. The article was a guest … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, Books, My Life, Other Writers
Tagged Acceptance, Adoption, Authenticity, Autism, Beloved, Brevity, Dating, Denial, Elizabeth Gaucher, Eowyn Ivey, Fear, I'm Sorry You Scare Me, Infertility, Loss, Open Adoption, Single Parent, The Snow Child, Toni Morrison, Unplanned Life
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A Slippery Legal Slope
A California lawsuit is working its way through the Santa Clara County court system that left me pretty much speechless when I learned of it. Two families are suing a third, claiming their autistic son is a public nuisance. At … Continue reading →