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Tag Archives: Autism
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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A Passion for Pluto
When I was in school, I learned that our solar system consisted of nine planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Venus was fiery hot; Mars the most similar to Earth. Jupiter had a bunch of … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Autism, Icy Body, Isolation, Jupiter, Labels, Loneliness, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, New Things, Outsider, Planet, Pluto, Saturn, Solar System, Underdog, Unplanned Life, Uranus, Venus
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The Perils of Puberty
I can’t ignore it any longer. My eleven-year-old daughter Katie has entered puberty. My sweet, helpful little girl has been replaced with a crabby, mercurial pre-teen who litters the floor with discarded possessions, eats nonstop, snaps at me, argues about … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Autism, Autism A to Z, Behavioral Issues, Change, Parenting, Puberty, Sensory Integration, Special Needs, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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Hello Middle School–An Update
My daughter Katie has been in middle school a little over a week. I am happy to report that despite my initial fears, things appear to be working out. She had a great first day. A great first week, in … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Annie Sullivan, Anxiety, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Change, Expectations, Fear, Gratitude, Middle School, Social skills, Special Education, Speech Delay, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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Essay Selected for Forthcoming Dating Anthology
I am pleased to announce that my essay, “Pick Ups at the Dog Park,” has been selected for publication in a forthcoming anthology entitled, Rendezvous in the Rough: Essays from the 21st Century Dating Trenches. Dealing with topics such as … Continue reading
Hello Middle School
This week Katie started 6th grade. My daughter is in middle school. How did that happen? I know it’s a cliche, but time is simply flying by, galloping forward and gaining speed. My baby is no longer my baby, or … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Annie Sullivan, Anxiety, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Change, Expectations, Fear, Helen Keller, Middle School, Special Education, Transitions, Unplanned Life, Waiting
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What Happens at Camp Arroyo Stays at Camp Arroyo
Katie survived summer camp. She had fun but I suspect it was rougher than outdoor education camp last fall. Which is strange because they had no sensory tools at outdoor ed. At Camp Arroyo, which is where the Exceptional Needs … Continue reading
The Things We do For Love
The other day I was driving home and saw a man in the middle of the street. It wasn’t a lazy, neighborhood street, but a congested four-lane arterial. He was cutting across mid-way between intersections, weaving through traffic. It was … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Addiction, Advocacy, Autism, Blame, Choice, Experts, IEPs, Love, Special Education, Special Needs, Trust, Unplanned Life
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Katie’s at Camp Arroyo!!!
Yesterday I dropped Katie off at Camp Arroyo. To say she was excited would be an understatement. I was pretty excited too. (Still am.) Unlike most single parents, I don’t have an ex-spouse/partner who provides me with free and convenient … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Autism, Camp Arroyo, Exceptional Needs Network, Gratitude, Single Parent, Taylor Family Foundation, Unplanned Life
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Dreaming of Camp Arroyo
In October 2014, my daughter Katie attended outdoor education camp at Camp Loma Mar, near Half Moon Bay, California. It was a big deal, and not just because it was my ten-year-old’s first time in a camp setting. Katie has … Continue reading


