Tag Archives: Autism

First Friends, Part 2
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Posted on April 22, 2012 by

My daughter has a friend. I never thought I would view this statement as something close to miraculous, but that’s how autism changes you. I no longer take friends—mine or my daughter’s—for granted. I wrote a few weeks ago about … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

One Thing I Hear Constantly
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Posted on April 10, 2012 by

One thing I hear constantly as a single parent of an autistic child: Wow, I don’t know how you manage. I don’t think I could do it. I suspect these people mean well, that they are trying to give me … Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

First Friends
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Posted on April 2, 2012 by

Okay, I confess. I was late getting my daughter Katie to school. It happens more times than I care to admit. She should be taking the bus, but don’t get me started on that topic. I tell myself most people … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

My Life as a Sweater, Part 2
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Posted on March 27, 2012 by

Several weeks ago I wrote about the bad days when I’m exhausted, depressed, and totally overwhelmed, days when my life is a sweater unraveled. It was also a post about the surprising number of people who have told me over … Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Poems and Prayers
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Posted on March 17, 2012 by

In October 2010, the City of Livermore hosted an Ekphrasis Event in which it asked writers to view local artwork and submit poetry that responded to it. I fell in love with one of the pieces: Autumn Soul by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

My Life as a Sweater
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Posted on February 26, 2012 by

Last week I had one of those days where I felt like a failure. I was exhausted and depressed and totally overwhelmed. The day started out pretty well. Then around mid-morning a friend said that she didn’t know how I … Continue reading →

Posted in Adoption, Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Questions
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Posted on February 9, 2012 by

I wrote last week that I have fallow periods in my writing life. I think the same is true with my daughter Katie. Sometimes she has fallow periods where nothing seems to be happening, and then BAM, she makes a … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Thoughts on “Quiet Hands”
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Posted on January 5, 2012 by

Despite what the New York Times and other critics say about memoir, I happen to love the genre—and not just because I write it myself. I love memoir because it grants me temporary access into someone else’s head. I learn … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Commentary, My Life | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Christmas Crafts, Part 3
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Posted on December 28, 2011 by

Eventually it dawned on me that Michael purchased the North Pole buildings because I provided settings that brought them to life. Sure the hot tubbing elves were cute, but they’d be downright adorable when placed in the North Pole Woods, … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, My Life | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

A Bitter Pill
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Posted on December 7, 2011 by

Even now, more than five years after my daughter’s diagnosis, it’s a bitter pill to swallow. Why is autism still such a mystery? Why don’t we have more answers? Part of the problem is a lack of sufficient funding. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Autism, Commentary, My Life | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments