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Tag Archives: Anxiety
A String of Firsts
Last weekend, I coordinated Poetry Day at the Alameda County Fair. (I know, who knew?) in the morning, I hosted an open mic for all the poets whose work was accepted and displayed at the Fair, plus in the afternoon, … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Alameda County Fair, Anxiety, Autism, Dating, Expectations, Gratitude, Letting Go, Milestones, Parenting, Poet Laureate, Poetry, Poetry Day, Single Parent, Unplanned Life, Writing Life
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Poetry on Demand, Part 2
I needed four poems about four diverse sculptures, and I needed them fast. But I now had a structure and a thread to tie them together. I sat myself down and started writing. Since I wanted to end with Peace, … Continue reading
Posted in My Life
Tagged Anxiety, Art, City of Livermore, Creativity, Poet Laureate, Poetry, Unplanned Life, Writing Life
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Poetry on Demand, Part 1
Back when I was debating whether or not to apply for the Poet Laureate position, the thing that gave me pause—okay, most worried me—was the task of writing poems “on demand” for the City. My three predecessors had been required … Continue reading
Posted in My Life
Tagged Anxiety, Art, City of Livermore, Creativity, Poet Laureate, Poetry, Unplanned Life, Writing Life
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Pot or Not?
After I conducted my research on the various medications used to treat (or not treat) autism, I asked our Regional Center case manager for her opinion. We were sitting at my kitchen table, having our annual meeting to discuss my … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Anxiety, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Cannabis, Marijuana, Medications, Puberty, Sensory Integration, Side Effects, Unplanned Life
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More Cha…cha…changes, Part 2
After an 18-month lapse in services and an autistic child in the throes of puberty, I was eager for a fresh start, behaviorally speaking. But my struggle to re-secure applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy for my daughter, Katie, hadn’t exactly … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged ABA, Advocacy, Anxiety, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Rapid Prompting Method, RPM, Social skills, Unplanned Life
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More Cha…cha…changes, Part 1
While Christopher and I were settling into our new relationship, I had a tough decision to make. After fighting for 18 months to secure applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy for my daughter, Katie, I was now struggling with how to … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged ABA, Advocacy, Anxiety, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Puberty, Sensory Integration, Social skills, Unplanned Life
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Cha…cha…changes
No sooner had Christopher and I started dating, than other changes started flooding in. First, Lora, one of our terrific new weekend/evening sitters, announced that she was going back to school to become a nurse. Her anatomy class fell on … Continue reading
Posted in My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Anxiety, Change, Dating, Single Parent, Special Needs, Unplanned Life
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Yes, You Can Look
Lately I’ve had numerous male friends—guys I didn’t think had an issue with sexual harassment and assault, or even frankly with discrimination, guys who for years had truly seemed to “get it”—whine and say something to the effect of: now … Continue reading
Posted in My Life
Tagged #MeToo, Anxiety, Change, Harvey Weinstein, Sexual Harassment, Unplanned Life, Workplace
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#MeToo
Is it just me? I’m feeling triggered (and then triggered again) on a daily—no, constant—basis by what seems like hourly revelations of sexual impropriety in the workplace. Part of me wants to look away. But part of me insists, no, … Continue reading
Posted in My Life
Tagged #MeToo, Anger, Anxiety, Creativity, Discrimination, Poetry, Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, Triggers, Unplanned Life, Workplace, Writing Life
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The Waiting Is (Almost) Over
Last Friday turned out to be a RED LETTER DAY in my crazy, unplanned life. First, my poetry collection, Across An Aqueous Moon: Travels in Autism, was finalized and sent to the printer. It should be ready to ship in … Continue reading