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Tag Archives: Behavioral Issues
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
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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Welcome to Summer School, Part 1
Back in April 2014, when Autism A to Z was making its public launch, I produced a special Storied Nights: An Evening of Spoken Word that focused on autism spectrum disorder. The year before I’d been published in Chicken Soup … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life, Other Writers
Tagged Autism, Behavioral Issues, Bus, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Raising Kids on the Spectrum, Connie Post, Fear, Jennifer Bush, Katherine Briccetti, Laura Shumaker, Michele Bissonnette Robbins, School bus, Special Needs, Storied Nights, Transitions, Unplanned Life
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Sneaking Candy
I don’t know if this is something I should admit, but my daughter Katie is getting sneaky. Because she has autism and I don’t have any typically functioning children, I’m often unsure if Katie’s behavior is due to her diagnosis … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Autism, Behavioral Issues, Milestones, Parenting, Sensory Integration, Shoulds, Single Parent, Sneaky Child, Unplanned Life
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Camp Loma Mar, Part 1
Last week my daughter Katie went to outdoor education camp with her 5th grade classmates. Such a simple statement. But for a child with autism, nothing is ever as simple as it seems, and Camp Loma Mar was no exception. … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Anxiety, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Camp, Camp Loma Mar, Expectations, Fear, Letting Go, Milestones, Outdoor Education, Redwood Glen, Sensory Integration, Social skills, Speech Delay, Unplanned Life
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Summer Fun
Sometimes, I have to admit, life forces me to try something new with my daughter, and virtually every time, Katie wildly exceeds my expectations. You’d think I’d remember this by now, but I almost never do. Which is why, perhaps, … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Expectations, Gratitude, Milestones, Unplanned Life
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Anatomy of a Meltdown, Part 3
After the meltdown, after the sensory binge, after putting the pieces together (read Part 1 and Part 2), my daughter and I checked out Livermore’s labyrinth, hidden in a courtyard behind the Presbyterian Church. It was lovely, ringed in candles. … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Authenticity, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Education, Gratitude, Labyrinth, Letting Go, Sensory Integration, Unplanned Life
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Anatomy of a Meltdown, Part 2
After my daughter’s food throwing meltdown at the Vietnamese restaurant (read Part 1 here), we headed straight for the park. Katie swung hard for 20 minutes, then took off her shoes and practically rolled in the sand. Then her shoes … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Acceptance, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Labyrinth, Parenting, Sensory Integration, Shame, Speech Delay, Unplanned Life
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Anatomy of a Meltdown, Part 1
While I’ve been busy launching Autism A to Z and the Whistlestop Writers Open Mic, some of my friends have been tackling their own exciting projects. Sharon, for example, has long had a dream to build a labyrinth and lead … Continue reading
Posted in Autism, My Life
Tagged Anger, Anxiety, Autism, Behavioral Issues, Labyrinth, Parenting, Sensory Integration, Shame, Speech Delay, Unplanned Life
2 Comments


