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Tag Archives: Autism
Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 3
At the end of the three-day it-feels-like-a-suspension-but-isn’t “non-suspension,” the school district held a meeting. The meeting started with the Principal and the Special Ed Director debating whether or not Katie had been suspended. The Principal insisted she hadn’t. When asked … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Autism, Behavioral Issues, IEPs, Suspension, Transititions, Unplanned Life
7 Comments
Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 2
Katie had a good three years in the Dublin School District’s autism program. Unfortunately she aged out of that program this summer, and as hard as it was to say goodbye—especially when she had made her first actual friends there—I … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Autism, Behavioral Issues, IEPs, Sensory Integration, Suspension, Transitions, Unplanned Life
8 Comments
Sometimes the Truth is Stranger Than Fiction, Part 1
I have been a very bad blogger. I didn’t intend to take the summer off (plus a good part of the fall as well), but in the end, that’s exactly what I did. Katie and I were busy enjoying the … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Advocacy, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Family, IEPs, Milestones, Single Parent, Social skills, Special Needs, Suspension, Transitions, Unplanned Life
8 Comments
Keeping the Faith
One of the hardest things about parenting a special needs child, especially one with a speech delay, is the waiting. Or perhaps I should say keeping the faith. You go a long time and don’t see much progress and just … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Autism, Gratitude, Milestones, Parenting, Sensory Integration, Social skills, Speech Delay, Unplanned Life
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Second Guest Post at The 40+ Woman
This summer I was asked to do a guest post over at Michelle Murphy Zive’s new website, The 40+ Woman. This is the second installment of the two-part story: An Unplanned Life, Part 2. (See my previous post for the … Continue reading
Posted in My Life, News, Publications
Tagged Acceptance, Adoption, Autism, Divorce, Speech Delay, Transitions, Unplanned Life, Writing Life
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Guest Post at The 40+ Woman
I was asked to do a guest post over at Michelle Murphy Zive’s new website, The 40+ Woman. Here’s the first installment of the two-part story: An Unplanned Life, Part 1. I’m thrilled to be helping start her new community of amazing … Continue reading
Posted in My Life, News, Publications
Tagged Acceptance, Adaptive Horseback Riding, Adoption, Autism, Divorce, Speech Delay, Transitions, Unplanned Life, Writing Life
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20 Signs That You Might Be a Single Autism Parent
Katie and I had a very relaxing early summer break. I’m not quite ready to return to the serious working world, so just for kicks I compiled a somewhat tongue-in-cheek list of the top twenty signs that you might be a … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Autism, Dating, Single Parent, Special Needs, Unplanned Life
2 Comments
A Mother’s Day Tradition, Part 2
Here’s what actually happened on Mother’s Day. Katie and I slept in, and then spent a quiet morning with her watching Signing Time (sign language/speech videos that she loves) and me writing on my laptop at the kitchen table. The … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Autism, Expectations, Family, Gratitude, Holidays, Single Parent, Unplanned Life
7 Comments
A Mother’s Day Tradition
Back when I was a child, Mother’s Day meant all three, and then four, of us kids “helping” Dad with breakfast. Our usual Sunday morning fare was fried or scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, and Sarah Lee Honey Buns—which if … Continue reading
Posted in Adoption, Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Adoption, Autism, Divorce, Expectations, Family, Gratitude, Holidays, Resentment, Single Parent, Unplanned Life
5 Comments
There’s No Daddy Here
A year or so ago, my daughter Katie noticed that her family looked different. She was doing a class project that involved identifying family members. Her drawing included the two of us plus Max the cat and Delta the dog. … Continue reading
Posted in Adoption, Autism, My Life
Tagged Adoption, Autism, Divorce, Family, Fathers, Milestones, Parenting, Single Parent, Unplanned Life
2 Comments


