Tag Archives: Parenting

Just When I Thought It Couldn’t Get Worse, Part 5
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Posted on June 9, 2016 by

The female investigator from Child Protective Services (CPS) surveyed the broken items around us and asked whether my daughter received behavioral support. “I had a great in-home team who had been with us for years, but I lost them in … Continue reading →

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Just When I Thought It Couldn’t Get Worse, Part 4
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Posted on June 2, 2016 by

I didn’t have long to wait. The investigator from Child Protective Services (CPS) arrived the next morning. She refused to enter until I put the dog outside, then paused at the door while she took in my new decor. The … Continue reading →

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Just When I Thought It Couldn’t Get Worse, Part 3
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Posted on May 26, 2016 by

Without Caroline, there could be no “school.” We’d been given an afternoon off. It was unexpected, but I wasn’t about to complain. Neither was Katie. Free of the usual afternoon chaos, I went to my office and jumped on a … Continue reading →

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The Perils of Puberty
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Posted on September 10, 2015 by

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 →

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Dreaming of Camp Arroyo
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Posted on July 30, 2015 by

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 →

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Thank You, I’m Fine
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Posted on March 19, 2015 by

It’s ironic that of all the disabilities my daughter could have had, Katie was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Kids on the spectrum have trouble identifying and labeling their emotions. But sadly, so do I. No, I’m not on the … Continue reading →

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Some Thoughts on Luck (And Other Stuff)
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Posted on March 12, 2015 by

As Saint Patrick’s Day approaches, I’ve been thinking a lot about luck. Most people think it’s incredibly unlucky that after eight years of infertility, my ex and I adopted a baby girl who turned out to have autism spectrum disorder—a … Continue reading →

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Sneaking Candy
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Posted on November 20, 2014 by

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 →

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Camp Loma Mar, Part 2
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Posted on October 23, 2014 by

For a week Katie and I practiced showering and using a sleeping bag. We talked about camp. We practiced greeting strangers. We labeled and packed clothes. We assembled the required gear. I read her social stories. The night before camp, … Continue reading →

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How The Worst Moments in Our Lives Make Us Who We Are
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Posted on October 7, 2014 by

Welcome to another Tuesday with TED. Today we have writer Andrew Solomon. Solomon writes about politics, culture, and psychology and has spent his career telling stories of the hardships of others. His 2012 book, Far From the Tree: Parents, Children, and the … Continue reading →

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